Two individuals are currently fighting for their lives in a private hospital following a partial collapse of a school-turned-residential building in the Ketu area of Lagos. The incident unfolded on Sunday, with the building, known as Agboye Estate on Oduntan Street, Ketu, sustaining significant damage. This catastrophe came just a day after the initial collapse on Saturday, which was triggered by heavy rainfall that swept through various parts of Lagos.

Sunday afternoon brought further devastation as the structure crumbled again, damaging yet another building within the compound before eventually collapsing entirely. The incident sent shockwaves through the neighborhood, prompting hundreds of families and individuals residing in the building to hastily evacuate the premises.

A visit to the affected site on Sunday evening revealed dozens of residents scrambling to move their belongings in different directions, while officials from the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency cordoned off the area. The entire compound, which houses several structurally compromised buildings, has been earmarked for demolition by Lagos authorities.

It’s worth noting that in December 2014, Saturday PUNCH conducted an extensive investigation into the collapsed building, publishing a report titled “500-room house in Lagos where tenants live as prisoners.” The report shed light on the deplorable living conditions endured by Agboye Estate tenants, who had to contend with hazards such as snakes, scorpions, and stagnant sewage water at the rear of the building. Within the closely spaced blocks, at least 12 rooms shared a single toilet and bathroom, with an average of two occupants per room, resulting in 24 users per toilet.

Furthermore, tenants were prohibited from using power generators, electric kettles, air conditioners, or hosting significant social gatherings like naming ceremonies or birthdays within the premises by the landlord, Onamo Agboye. The sole entrance to and from the compound closed daily at 11:00 pm, effectively restricting movement in and out beyond that hour.

In response to the 2014 report by Saturday PUNCH, the Lagos State Government had temporarily sealed the building, but this sanction was lifted a few days later. As of now, the landlord of Agboye Estate has reportedly gone into hiding in the wake of Sunday’s tragic events.