Building collapses on mother of five while hawking

CORPS OF MRS. PRECIOUS CHIZOBA OKEKE

A mother of five, Mrs. Precious Chizoba Okeke, yesterday died in Aba, Abia State, after a three-storey building collapsed on her just as she was hawking her wares. The building, which was undergoing demolition, crashed on Okeke and dismembered her body. She died instantly on the spot.

The deceased, from Mbaise in Imo State, was a resident of 27 Ukachi Street, off Port Harcourt Road, Aba. She was hawking within the premises of the building, when it crashed on her.

The brother of the deceased, who introduced himself as Nonso, said that he and other family members were still in shock. He said: “When I got to the scene, I was shocked to the extent that I began to ask people if Boko Haram had entered Aba to bomb us all.

It was a horrible sight to behold. It was when I got close that I saw my sister’s body. Her second leg was missing and from what I saw there, the building was being demolished on the orders of the state government.

“I learnt that the bulldozer was working on a nearby building and that the vibrations forced the building to collapse on my sister, just as she was hawking, to raise money to take care of her children.

I heard she even ran, attempting to escape, but the building still crashed on her. She was selling zobo and other drinks. The children also rushed to the scene, but were taken away by sympathisers. As I’m speaking with you, my old mother is still expecting her back in the village.

She promised to visit her soon. My father, who got the news of the incident, had already been hospitalised as a result of the shock. Our mother doesn’t even know yet.” The man added that Okeke, through the hawking, was not only caring for her children, but also for him, especially since he lost his job.

He explained that Okeke’s husband was devastated. He added: “We beg the government and our governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, to save her children by extending a hand of help to them. We don’t blame the government, but the children now need help.” After the incident, the Abia State government, through the Commissioner for Information, John Okiyi Kalu, released a statement, sympathising with the family.

Kalu urged people to stay away from construction sites within the state. He said: “We received with sadness the report of the loss of a life arising from residents’ voluntary effort to remove an illegal structure on Port Harcourt Road, Aba, which is currently under reconstruction by Setraco- Hartland Construction Company. “Initial reports available to us indicate that in the course of removing illegal attachments to a property by its owners, the building collapsed and unfortunately killed a non-resident engaged in petty trading activity around the property.

“Our hearts are with the family and friends of the deceased, even as we continue efforts to trace her next of kin. While we appreciate the cooperation and exemplary support of the residents and landlords’ association of Port Harcourt Road, to ensure that we quickly realise a new six-lane road from the long abandoned but critically important Port Harcourt Road, Aba, it is important to call on residents and landlords to abide by our safety rules and protocols, including complete evacuation of people living in or doing business around a marked property before commencing demolition of extensions and illegal structures.”

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