By Nkechi Eze
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has concluded search and rescue operations following the collapse of a three-storey building under construction in the Gudu District of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), with four persons confirmed dead and 17 others rescued with varying degrees of injuries.
According to an official signed statement by NEMA Abuja Operations Office (AOO), the Agency received a distress alert at about 9:45 a.m. on Saturday, May 16, 2026, prompting the immediate activation of critical emergency response stakeholders.
The statement noted that agencies involved in the operation included the Federal Fire Service, FCT Fire Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), and the FCT Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
NEMA disclosed that a team of operatives from the AYA Emergency Response and Ambulance Bay (ERAB) was swiftly deployed to the scene for immediate intervention and coordination, while an additional support team from the Agency’s headquarters, led by the Director of Search and Rescue, later arrived to provide operational supervision and backup.
The Agency stated that rescue operations continued until about 7:30 p.m. on Saturday before they were temporarily suspended due to exhaustion and security concerns. Operations resumed on Sunday, May 17, and were officially concluded at about 10:00 a.m.
According to the statement, all 17 injured victims were evacuated to Asokoro General Hospital for medical attention, while four fatalities were recorded during the operation.
NEMA explained that the collapsed structure was situated within a densely populated residential area in Gudu District, adding that the deployment of excavators and other earth-moving equipment significantly improved the speed and efficiency of the rescue efforts.
The Agency, however, identified poor terrain and restricted access routes as major operational challenges that delayed the movement of heavy-duty equipment to the incident scene. It also noted that poor crowd control around the area hampered the swift movement of emergency responders.
Despite the challenges encountered, NEMA stated that the operation was successfully carried out to foundation level, ensuring that all trapped victims were rescued and adequately attended to.
