Mudslide Sinks Shanties, Kills New Bride

*Two rescued

Chiemelie Ezeobi

Following three consecutive days of intensive rainfall in Lagos, a massive mudslide occurred on Dosunmu Street off Amara Olu Road, Agidingbi, a swampy wetland and sunk some shanties, killing a newly wed bride.

The shanties, which were constructed in a wetland, finally caved in and sank after the repeated rainfalls had weakened the soil and made it loose.

Although three people, a couple and the bride’s mother, were initially buried under the mud, the man and his mother-in-law were rescued by emergency responders, but the same couldn’t be said for the bride, one Faisa Muhammad.

THISDAY gathered that the Muhammad’s could be said to be on honeymoon as they were barely wedded for 10 days before death came calling for the bride.

The emergency responders were drawn from NEMA, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Alausa Police Division, the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Lagos State Ambulance Services (LASAMBUS).

The spokesperson, South-west, for the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mr. Ibrahim Farinloye, confirmed the death.

He said, “The information we initially received was that a building collapsed at Amaraolu bus stop, Agidingbi. Response agencies stormed the scene and discovered that it was a midslide that collapsed on shanties. The mudslide incident happened in a swampy location.

“One woman recovered dead. The victim, Mrs Faisa Muhammad, just married 10 days ago before the mudslide incident. Mrs. Faisa Muhammad about 16-years old lived with her newly wedded husband. Her mother lives there too.

“In another development, a mosque partially collapsed on Monday night at about 11pm at No 3 Adepitan Street off Ramat Crescent, Ogudu, but it was no threat to lives.”

Also confirming the incident, the General Manager, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Mr. Michael Akindele, who was at the scene said the agency received the distress call and rushed to the scene.

He said, “The agency received a distress call through the emergency toll free line 112/767 at about 10.54am of a report of mudslide on illegal shanties around Kuata Area by Amara Olu street, Mechanic Village, Agidingbi, Ikeja.

‘Three persons were discovered trapped under the mud. The agency’s Emergency Response Team (ERT) were able to rescue two people (a male and a female).

“However, one adult female (Muhammad) lost her life. The dead was recovered by the agency’s Emergency Response Team .

“The agency’s ERT and other emergency responders were on ground for the recovery operation. Also there was the Commandant, Nigerian Civil Defence Corps, Lagos State Command Mr. Tajudeen Balogun.”