BUT for Providence, a family of seven, two girls and another family of three would have perished by now. They escaped death by the whiskers at Akuzo in Nkpor town, Idemili North Local Government of Anambra State, as the four-storey building they lived in at No. 6 Oraukwu Street, collapsed.

The building had been roofed and was undergoing plastering, when it suddenly caved in.

Fortunately, none of the occupants was around when the incident happened.

According to neighbours, the building had given conspicuous signs of danger, which prompted some of the occupants to relocate to other places.

One of the neighbours told the Nigerian Compass that the building gave signs of danger as most parts of the walls, both inside and outside, had already cracked, even while the plastering was going-on, forcing many of the occupants of the first and second floors to relocate.

The eyewitness said that residents of the house were advised to leave for their safety, adding that while some of them heeded the advice, others ignored it.

Asked if the owner was aware of the signs, he said that the owner, who lives in Germany, was sited at the place about three weeks ago and was said to have advised the building contractors to support the structure with more pillars before going back to his base.

Speaking during a visit to the scene, the acting President-General of Nkpor Development Union, Mr. Ralph Asha Nnabuife, who doubles as the Transition Committee Chairman of Idemili North Council, regretted the incident, describing as most unfortunate.
Nnabuife wondered what must have led to the collapse of the building, noting that it was the first time such an incident would happen in the area.

“I haven’t heard or seen this kind of thing in this land called Nkpor, my home town; honestly I’m shocked,” he added.
The chairman, however, sympathised with the owner on the loss and thanked God for protecting the lives of the occupants.