Alakija Building Collapse: 27 Rescued, 9 Dead as Lagos Concludes Rescue Operation.

By Sunny Desmond | DESSY'S BLOG |

Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, has concluded search, rescue and recovery operations at the site of the collapsed building on Old Ojo Road, Alakija Bus Stop, Satellite Town, with 27 persons rescued alive and 9 confirmed dead.

How It Happened: Thursday’s Collapse.

The two-storey residential building gave way at about 12:47 p.m. on Thursday, June 25, 2026, trapping occupants under concrete and debris. Some early reports cited a three-storey shopping complex in the same Alakija area of Ori-Ade LCDA.

The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service said it received a distress call at 11:37 a.m. and deployed responders from Ijegun-Egba Fire Station, who arrived at 11:49 a.m. Eyewitnesses said the structure collapsed without warning, forcing residents and traders to flee.

 Final Casualty and Rescue Figures.

LASEMA confirmed that 27 people were rescued alive with varying degrees of injuries. All survivors received emergency medical care from LASAMBUS before being taken to nearby hospitals.

Nine persons were confirmed dead, including a two-year-old girl. Four adults were confirmed dead before rescue teams arrived. Bodies were handed over to the State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit for identification.

During the operation, LASEMA reported 26 rescued and 8 dead. The final update pushed the survivor count to 27.

Multi-Agency Response on Ground.The operation involved multiple agencies: LASEMA’s Sharks Response Team from Lekki Base and Alpha Cobra Squad from Onipanu, Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, LASAMBUS, LASTMA, LNSC, FRSC, LASBCA, Nigeria Police, Nigerian Army, Nigerian Red Cross, and China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation.

Heavy-duty equipment, including an excavator, was deployed to clear rubble and reach trapped victims. LASEMA Permanent Secretary Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu said the agency maintained a coordinated effort with LASBCA and construction partners throughout.

Residents Raised Prior Warnings

Eyewitnesses and residents said the building was old and had developed visible cracks as recently as Tuesday. Some claimed the Lagos State Government had marked the building with a red warning for evacuation.

“My boss owns a cyber cafe inside the mall. Two years ago, he packed saying the building was giving signs that it would collapse,” one resident told reporters at the scene.

Another eyewitness described hearing a loud noise with smoke: “I was just arriving the shop, just outside. Not up to five minutes after, I heard a loud noise... There is another person making a noise from under the building. A lot of people are still alive inside there.”

Cause Still Under Investigation.

Authorities have not determined the cause of the collapse. Investigations are ongoing to ascertain whether structural defects, poor maintenance, or unauthorized alterations were factors.

LASEMA said it will continue to provide verified updates as investigations progress. The agency urged the public to remain calm, avoid the incident scene, and allow responders unrestricted access.

Lagos and Building Collapse: A Recurring Problem

Building collapses remain a major safety concern in Lagos. In November 2021, a high-rise in Ikoyi killed at least 40 people. Earlier in 2026, a Yaba construction site and an Ebute Metta building collapsed, claiming lives.

The Lagos State Government has repeatedly warned residents to report suspicious construction. Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development Wasiu Anifowoshe said tenants should “blow the whistle” when landlords undertake dangerous works. Under Lagos law, any site that collapses must be seized by the state.

Building professionals say marked defective buildings are often not demolished before tragedy strikes. LASBCA has said developers sometimes continue work at night after structures are sealed.

Rescue and recovery at Alakija ended with 27 survivors and 9 fatalities. The focus now shifts to investigation, accountability, and whether prior warnings were ignored.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu is expected to visit the site. For families of the 9 who died, the question is how many more warnings Lagos will miss before the next building comes down.