The survivor said the tenants were unaware that the caretaker allegedly ignored the landlord's directive and proceeded to rent out the apartments to new occupants in January this year.
Fresh details have emerged from the site of the collapsed three-storey building in Amaokpala community, Oko, Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State, as survivors alleged that the landlord had earlier issued a quit notice to tenants because of structural defects before the tragedy struck.
The incident, which occurred on Sunday night, has left at least one person confirmed dead, while rescue teams continue to search for others feared trapped beneath the rubble.
A multi-agency rescue operation involving the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Anambra State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), the Fire Service, security agencies and other government officials remained ongoing at the scene.
According to Radio Nigeria, one of the occupants who escaped before the building gave way said that the landlord had instructed tenants to vacate the premises to allow repairs on the building after visible signs of structural failure were detected.
