The Federal Capital Territory FCT Emergency Management Department( FEMD) on Sunday declared seven people died in the building that collapsed on Saturday at Sabon Lugbe along the Airport Road.
FEMD dismissed as untrue media reports that 40 persons were trapped in the rubble.
A statement by FEMD Head Public Affairs, Nkechi Isa said: “FEMD wishes to clarify that the said structure located at Gidash Estate was one of the buildings earmarked for removal by the Department of Development Control.
“In a statement at the incident site, the Ag. Director General of FEMD, Engr Abdulrahman Mohammed said that 7 persons who were scavenging for iron rods and other building materials lost their lives in the process.
“What happened is that the structure was marked for removal by development control. So these boys taking advantage of the fact that there would be no demolition exercise at Weekend, moved in to strip the iron rods in the pillar holding up the building leading to the unfortunate incident”.He said.
“Engr Abdulrahman also stated that the Chairman Miyetti Allah ,FCT chapter, Mohammed Hussein confirmed to FEMD that 5 members of the association were removed dead from the rubble.
“Seven other persons were rescued alive from the rubble of the collapsed building.”
