In a tragic incident at Elechi Street in the Mile 3 area of Diobu, Port Harcourt, a man, presumed to be a scavenger, lost his life as a staircase in an abandoned one-storey building reportedly collapsed on him. The dilapidated state of the structure, overrun by weeds and marked by cracked walls, raised concerns about its safety.

Our correspondent, upon visiting the scene, noted the deteriorated condition of the building. Chief Security Officer of Nkpolu Oroworukwo Mile 3 Diobu, Godstime Ihunwo, disclosed that he received information about hoodlums engaging in illicit activities within the premises. Acting swiftly, Ihunwo, also a member of the local vigilante group, mobilized his team to respond to the reported disturbance.

Upon arrival, the vigilantes discovered the hoodlums had vacated the premises. However, during a subsequent search, they stumbled upon the lifeless body of a man. Ihunwo recounted the collapse of the staircase on the deceased and promptly alerted the residents and the Nkpolu Divisional Police headquarters.

The Diobu Vigilante Service had been previously informed about the miscreants converting the abandoned building into a drug consumption spot. Ihunwo emphasized the continued efforts of the vigilante group to address such concerns raised by residents.

The police, responding to the incident, visited the scene on Wednesday afternoon. Grace Iringe-Koko, the spokesperson for the state police command, confirmed the death, indicating that the deceased was a scavenger. Iringe-Koko explained that preliminary information suggested the man might have been attempting to remove rods from the staircase, leading to the unfortunate collapse. As investigations unfold, the deceased’s body has been deposited in the mortuary.