Police Arrest Contractor, Others Over Nsukka Collapsed Building

L-R: Prof Vincent Chukwuemeka, Archbishop Maxwell Anikwenwa, Prof. Uche Azikiwe, Prof. Ben Nwabueze and Comrade Elliot Uko, at a committee meeting of Igbo leaders of thought in Enugu State, recently.

The Police Command
in Enugu State has arrested the contractor, engineer and foreman handling the three -storey building that collapsed in Nsukka last Saturday.
The command’s spokesman, Mr Ebere Amarizu, confirmed the arrest in Nsukka  in a telephone interview with the our correspondent.
Amaraizu said the suspects were arrested in Nsukka following reports that indicted them.
He said they would be prosecuted after investigations by the police.
In another development, the Chairman of Nsukka Local Government Area, Mr Charles Ugwu, has said that the technical audit committee set up by the council to investigate the cause of the collapse had submitted its preliminary report.
The chairman told journalists during a visit to the site of the collapsed building that the report indicated that the contractor used poor quality materials which led to its collapse.
He directed the stoppage of work at the site, including three other buildings still under construction in the premises, pending the outcome of the final report of the committee and police investigations.
“If the final report from the committee confirms that substandard materials were used on the other three, we have no option than to pull them down to avert future collapse,’’ he said.
The chairman commended officials of the council, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), security agencies, FEROTEC Nig Ltd and the residents of the area for their contributions during the rescue operation.
“We appreciate everybody who contributed in one capacity or the other to assist in the rescue operation.
“The council has sent a condolence message to the family of the carpenter who died during the incidence,” he said.
Ugwu said the council would constitute a health and safety committee to ensure the safety of its residents.