Police
The Enugu State Police Command has launched a full-scale investigation into the collapse of an overhead concrete water reservoir that killed five family members in Awgu Local Government Area.
The incident occurred at approximately 5:45 a.m. on September 18 in Umuike-Aja Village, Nenwenta Community, when a heavy concrete water tank attached to an uncompleted building gave way and crushed an adjoining bungalow belonging to Mr. Raphael Onwu.
The Command’s Spokesperson, SP Daniel Ndukwe, confirmed the casualties in an official statement, identifying the deceased as Mr. Onwu, his wife, his mother, and two of his children.
Police operatives from the Awgu Division, alongside personnel from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and local community members, mobilised to the scene for emergency response operations. Rescuers managed to pull a nine-year-old boy alive from the rubble. He was rushed to a nearby medical facility where he is currently receiving treatment.
The remains of the five deceased family members were recovered and taken to the hospital, where they were officially pronounced dead. Their bodies have been deposited in the mortuary for preservation and autopsy.
Following the incident, the Commissioner of Police in Enugu State, Mr. Mamman Giwa, ordered a comprehensive inquiry to determine the structural and operational causes of the disaster. Police have since taken the owner of the uncompleted property, Mr. Onyedikachi Nkwo, into custody for questioning.
Expressing his condolences to the bereaved family and the broader Nenwenta community, Commissioner Giwa assured the public that the command would take appropriate legal and regulatory action based on the findings of the ongoing investigation.
The police command also issued a warning to property developers and residents against unapproved or substandard construction practices, urging members of the public to engage qualified structural professionals to prevent similar fatal accidents.
