A 30-year-old Nigerian woman, Cynthia Oguzie, was reportedly killed after an overhead water tank crashed on her when the ceiling of her room caved in.
A short video seen by PUNCH Metro showed the victim lying on her bed motionless though a woman could be heard saying the victim was still alive at the time.
Another clip captured the fallen water tank alongside the wreckage of the structure, while additional photos showed Oguzie’s lifeless body in what appeared to be a hospital.
Oguzie had reportedly moved into the Lekki, Lagos apartment just two months before the incident.
A Facebook user who identified himself as her brother, Chukwuebuka Nathaniel, shared the incident on his page.
He blamed the tragedy on poor construction, alleging the water stand was substandard.
“Beware of Lekki buildings and their water stands. This is how they sent my sister to her early grave. Thank you, so-called Lekki landlord, and your engineer for doing this type of water stand,” he wrote.
Nathaniel added, “The landlord said he is not in Nigeria, that it’s the engineer who built all the houses and sent him pictures and videos. This is how the story ended.”
Though the Lagos State Police Command has yet to officially confirm the incident, photos and videos of the tragic scene went viral on social media.
A flier outlining the burial arrangements showed that Oguzie’s funeral service will hold on Friday, April 25.
When contacted by PUNCH Metro on Tuesday, the command’s spokesperson, Chief Superintendent of Police, Benjamin Hundeyin, said the incident might have not been brought to the command’s attention.
The incident triggered widespread outrage and grief online, with many Nigerians calling out the developers for alleged negligence and cost-cutting measures at the expense of safety.
“Those engineers who don’t want to go through the mandatory training—most of them are not COREN certified,” commented Facebook user Felix Amehnawon.
“Chai! What a pathetic way to die. May she RIP,” wrote Amaka Duru.
Another user, Benedict Chinonso, stated, “There are specific pipes you should use for areas like this because of the salty water that rusts pipes over time.
“These people cut corners with cheaper materials just to make more profit. I hope someone pays for this so others will learn. This is sad.”
Charles Newton added, “The welder who fabricated that substandard tank stand needs to have been in jail by now.”
Ochuba Collins wrote, “This is why you should engage your engineer during the finishing of your building. Very painful. May she rest in peace.”
Chisom Nwankwo also shared his thoughts, saying, “Landlords sometimes pay for original materials, but the workers end up buying fake ones just to keep the extra money.”
As of Tuesday evening, the state government was yet to react to the incident.
Credit: punchng.com
