Opeyemi Abolarinwa, Osogbo

Panic gripped Owode-Ede in Ede North Local Government Area of Osun State after a two-storey shopping complex under construction collapsed late Friday, killing three persons and leaving four others injured.

The incident, which occurred around 11 p.m., was said to have trapped seven artisans who were working at the site.

The victims, identified as apprentice tilers from Ejigbo, had reportedly travelled to Ede for the tiling job. Sources disclosed that they worked into the night and decided to pass the night inside the uncompleted building to resume work early Saturday. Their boss was said to be absent when the building caved in.

According to sources, the structure had shown signs of distress before the collapse. The facility was designed as a shopping complex with 12 shops spread across the upper floors and two stores at the basement.

Locals further alleged that the construction was carried out without professional engineering supervision. It was claimed that the owner of the property, who lives directly behind the complex, personally supervised the work and procured the materials himself.

A video obtained showed the building completely levelled to rubble, with debris littering the entire site as emergency responders battled to rescue victims. A Federal Fire Service truck was seen at the scene alongside other rescue officials.

Three of the artisans were recovered dead, while four others were pulled out alive with injuries of varying severity.

As of press time, the exact cause of the collapse was yet to be officially determined.