Mrs. Ngozi Ugochukwu, a mother of six and one of the people who survived a collapsed three-storey building in Umuahia, Abia State, said she had no warning or feeling that something bad was going to happen.
The building, located on Olokoro Road in the Federal Low-Cost Housing Estate, Ohobo Afara Umuahia, collapsed early on Saturday morning. A mother and her baby were injured in the incident.
Mrs. Ugochukwu, 35 years old, told South East reporters on Monday in Umuahia that her bungalow is located just behind the collapsed building, with only a fence separating them.
Speaking from her hospital bed, she explained that the falling building almost killed her and two of her children — five-year-old Chiamaka and five-month-old Juliet.
She said there was no warning before the collapse. Around 2:45 a.m. on Saturday, the building fell and damaged her apartment on the other side of the fence.
Mrs. Ugochukwu, who sells food items, said she and her daughter screamed for help. Their cries woke up neighbors, who rushed to rescue them.
“I can’t explain exactly what happened,” she said. “The building just collapsed on us. Around 2:45 a.m., I started shouting. My daughter ran out and also shouted. Neighbors came and started removing blocks and stones to save us.”
“I thank God none of my children died, especially my newborn. Many blocks fell on her, but when I opened my eyes, she was still alive and healthy,” she added. “I don’t know if I fainted, but I only came back to my senses later that morning. I had no idea this would happen.”
Mrs. Ugochukwu, who attends the Redeemed Christian Church of God, appealed to the government — both in Abia and Imo States, and the federal government — to help her.
She said, “I sell food items and my shop was sold off, so I brought everything, including my grinding machines, home. Many tenants live in our compound, but our room is closest to the fence. We’ve lived there for about five years.”
Her husband, Eke Ugochukwu, who works in road construction, said he was in Enugu when he got the news around 3 a.m. that morning. He said he also had no warning and quickly rushed home to find his wife and children in the hospital.
He was grateful no one died but said they now have no place to stay and pleaded for help.
According to reports, Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has ordered that the victims be moved to a government facility, where the state will take care of them.
