A man suspected to be a scavenger had been crushed to death by a collapsed staircase in an abandoned one-storey building, located at 38 Elechi street, Mile 3 Diobu in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The victim, whose identity is yet to be determined, was said to be under the staircase when it caved in and landed on his head, shattering his skull and spinal cord, reports Daily Independent.
Our correspondent who visited the scene observed that the one-storey building was overtaken by grasses, while the walls had several cracks and holes.
Chief Security Officer of Nkpolu Oroworukwo Mile 3 Diobu, who spoke to our correspondent on the incident, disclosed that his men who were on patrol, discovered the body of the man inside the building and raised an alarm to residents, as well as the police.
Ihunwo, who is also a member of Diobu Vigilante Service, operating in the area, said upon receipt of complaints from residents about the activities of hoodlums in the said building, mobilised his men to the scene.
He said upon getting to the place, the hoodlums who may have gotten wind of their arrival, fled the scene, adding that while his men were moving round the building, the lifeless body of the young man was found under the rubble of the collapsed staircase.
Ihunwu said, “Today being the 8th of November, 2023 at about 6.15pm, I received information that some boys went into an abandoned one-storey building at No. 38 Elechi street, Mile 3 Diobu, Port Harcourt, where hoodlums usually go and smoke hard drugs.
“So based on previous complaints by residents of the street on activities of hoodlums using the abandoned one-storey building as a smoking joint, I quickly mobilised my men to the scene.
“On getting to the scene, the hoodlums have left the abandoned one-storey building, while we were conducting a search for the hoodlums, we saw a lifeless body whose identity is yet to be known.
“On close examination, it was discovered that the deceased is a male, we also observed that the staircase of the abandoned one-storey building collapsed on the deceased and we raised alarm which drew the attention of residents of the area who came to the scene immediately and we quickly informed the Nkpolu Divisional Police Command.”
Our Correspondent learnt that operatives of the Police visited the scene this afternoon
Spokesperson of the Rivers State Police Command, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, is yet to comment on the incident.
