A tragic incident unfolded in Idumoza community, Uromi, Esan North East Local Government Area, Benin City, where a hotel owner identified as Andrew Isesere was fatally crushed when his building, which was under construction, collapsed. The incident, which occurred last Friday, saw the owner trapped inside the rubble, with his remains subsequently recovered on Sunday morning.

While Isesere lost his life, more than 20 workers at the construction site miraculously escaped the collapse, though some sustained varying degrees of injuries. Eyewitnesses at the scene recounted the harrowing moments the structure gave way, highlighting the critical dangers associated with construction projects, especially when safety standards are compromised.

The cause of the collapse has been widely attributed by those familiar with the project to the use of low-quality, substandard materials. A neighbour, Andrew Inegbebor, corroborated these concerns, stating, "The owner was told he was using low-quality materials. He used 12mm instead of 16mm rods for the pillars. There was no base basket at the pillars. Look at the result." This direct testimony underscores the alleged negligence in material selection and structural integrity.

Further details revealed that the project lacked professional oversight, as there was reportedly no qualified engineer present on site. The deceased owner himself was said to have supervised the entire construction process. This absence of expert supervision, coupled with the reported use of inferior materials like 12mm rods where 16mm rods were required and the omission of base baskets for pillars, significantly compromised the building's stability, leading to its eventual and fatal collapse.

As of the time of reporting, the Edo State police spokesman, Moses Yamu, confirmed that he had not yet been briefed on the incident. Investigations into the tragic collapse and the circumstances surrounding the use of construction materials and supervision are expected to follow, aiming to prevent similar occurrences in the future.