A four-storey building under construction in Port Harcourt City Local Government Area of Rivers State has collapsed, trapping several persons beneath the rubble.

The incident occurred on Wednesday morning, barely 48 hours after another three-storey building collapsed at the Rumuolumeni axis of Port Harcourt.

An eyewitness said at least seven persons were trapped in the collapsed structure, while residents succeeded in rescuing two victims from the rubble shortly after the incident.

One of the eyewitnesses at the scene said they could see the head of one of the trapped victims, who was screaming, “my legs, my legs,” but efforts to reach him were unsuccessful.

The eyewitness further disclosed that the site engineer supervising the building project was among those trapped beneath the debris.

A body has also been recovered from the rubble.

Security and emergency response agencies have since mobilised to the scene.

Among those present are the Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju; the Commissioner for Urban Development and Physical Planning, Amairigha Edward Hart; officials of the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA; the Fire Service; the Nigerian Red Cross Society; and ambulances from the Ministry of Health.

One of the site workers, Oladimeji Taiwo, a carpenter working on the project, alleged that the site engineer had warned workers that the building could collapse on Wednesday morning.

Taiwo, who narrowly escaped the incident, said he was outside the building when it gave way.

According to him, he had earlier noticed cracks on the walls of the structure, which was still under construction.

He said less than 10 minutes after the site engineer gave the warning, the building began to collapse.

Taiwo estimated that between eight and 10 persons were trapped in the building at the time of the incident.

He said, “I have spent six months in this place. All what I have is inside here with my phone.

“I just want to appeal, they should help me and my brothers.”

As of Wednesday afternoon, three persons had been rescued from the rubble, while rescue efforts are ongoing to reach the remaining victims trapped beneath the collapsed structure.

A United States federal court has sentenced a Nigerian politician, Franklin Ikechukwu Nwadialo, to five years imprisonment for masterminding a long-running online romance fraud scheme that defrauded victims of more than $3.5 million.

Nwadialo, 42, who serves as Chairman of Ogbaru Local Government Area in Anambra State, was sentenced by US District Judge Tiffany M. Cartwright in Tacoma, Washington, according to a statement released by the US Department of Justice.

While delivering judgment, the judge described the fraudulent operation as “devastating,” noting that beyond the financial losses suffered by victims, the scheme caused emotional trauma, including depression, shame and isolation from family members.

First Assistant US Attorney Charles Neil Floyd said the convict and his associates targeted emotionally vulnerable individuals, particularly those dealing with heartbreak, divorce or the loss of loved ones.

According to prosecutors, Nwadialo operated fake identities on dating platforms including Match, Zoosk and Christian Café, often posing as a military officer identified as “Giovanni”.

Using the fake personas, he allegedly manipulated victims into sending money under false pretences, including fabricated military penalties, funeral expenses, emergencies and fraudulent investment opportunities.

Prosecutors stated that many of the victims were elderly, widowed or divorced individuals who believed they were in genuine romantic relationships.

One victim reportedly maintained an online relationship with the fake identity for three years before learning through the FBI that the entire relationship was fraudulent.

Another victim, described as a widow searching for companionship after her husband’s death, allegedly lost her home and life savings after liquidating assets to send money to the suspect.

Federal authorities said the fraud scheme operated for more than 15 years and caused severe financial and emotional damage to multiple victims.

FBI Special Agent in Charge W. Mike Harrington said Nwadialo exploited vulnerable people seeking companionship online and deceived them into surrendering their life savings.

The Nigerian politician was arrested in 2024 at an airport in Texas shortly after arriving in the United States and was later indicted on 14 counts of wire fraud.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant US attorneys Sok Tea Jiang and David T. Martin.

A suspected internet fraudster has allegedly beheaded his girlfriend in Edjeba community, Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State.

DAILY POST learnt that the suspect used a knife to cut off the neck of his girlfriend at his apartment in Ajidi Street, Edjeba.

It was gathered that the landlord of the compound raised the alarm and called the police when he heard a loud shout from the suspect’s apartment.

The police arrived promptly, searched the apartment and found the headless body of the deceased and arrested the suspect, who is currently in custody.

The police also deposited the remains of the deceased in a morgue pending when investigation is concluded.

Residents of the area said they saw the girl the previous day when she went to the market to purchase food items to cook for her boyfriend, not knowing that he will kill her in the morning.

They noted that they used to see the two ‘lovebirds’ in the suspect’s white Lexus SUV.

The Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, confirmed the development in a Whatsapp message sent to our correspondent in Warri.