By Woke Joshua
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has confirmed the recovery of one dead victim following the collapse of a four-storey uncompleted building at Independence Layout, Enugu State.
The building collapsed at about 6:00 a.m. on Sunday, September 13, 2026, prompting the immediate deployment of emergency responders to the scene.
NEMA Director-General, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, directed the agency’s Enugu Operations Office to mobilise an Emergency Rescue Team and coordinate rescue efforts with relevant stakeholders.
In a statement issued by the agency’s Press Unit and signed by Manzo Ezekiel, NEMA said the rescue team was informed on arrival that some persons were trapped beneath the rubble.
The responders immediately commenced search and rescue operations, while an excavator was deployed to assist in clearing the debris and accessing the affected areas.
The agency said the joint rescue team recovered the lifeless body of one male victim at about 11:20 a.m.
It added that rescue operations were still ongoing as emergency personnel continued to comb through the rubble to determine whether more victims remained trapped.
The operation involves NEMA, the Enugu State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), the Nigeria Police Force, the Enugu State Fire and Rescue Service, the Enugu State Capital Territory Development Authority, and the Enugu State Ministry of Works and Infrastructure.
NEMA said the agencies were working together to sustain the rescue effort and establish the full extent of the incident.
The statement was dated September 13, 2026.