Lagos launches probe after overhead water tank kills woman
The Lagos State Government has announced plans to launch an investigation into the tragic death of 30-year-old Cynthia Oguzie, who was reportedly killed when an overhead water tank collapsed onto her apartment in the Lekki area of the state.
The spokesperson for the Lagos State Safety Commission, Adewunmi Okoh, confirmed the development to PUNCH Metro on Wednesday during an interview about the heartbreaking incident.
PUNCH Metro reported on Wednesday that a short video viewed by our correspondent showed the victim lying motionless on her bed. However, a woman in the background could be heard insisting that she was still alive.
Another video captured the collapsed water tank and the wreckage of the building, while additional photos showed Cynthia Oguzie’s lifeless body in what appeared to be a hospital setting.
Oguzie had reportedly moved into the Lekki apartment just two months before the tragic incident.
A Facebook user who identified himself as the victim’s brother, Chukwuebuka Nathaniel, shared details of the incident on his page, blaming the tragedy on substandard construction.
“Beware of Lekki buildings and their water stands,” he wrote.
“This is how they sent my sister to her early grave. Thank you, so-called Lekki landlord, and your engineer, for doing this type of water stand,” he added.
Reacting to the incident, Mrs Okoh told our correspondent that the commission’s investigative team was prepared to be deployed to the scene to conduct a thorough investigation.
To facilitate the process, she urged the deceased’s brother to provide the exact address of the building, noting that it would help the commission trace those responsible for the tragic incident.
“We need details of the incident. We will escalate the matter to the DG. And the officers in charge will take the matter over. They will investigate the incident,” Okoh informed PUNCH Metro.
The commission, which was established to uphold public safety, has investigated several similar incidents in the past, including the case of a young man who died after jumping into a melting pot and has issued sanctions upon the completion of such probes.
Meanwhile, efforts by our correspondent to reach the bereaved brother, Nathaniel, were unsuccessful, as calls and messages sent to him on Facebook had not been responded to as of the time this report was filed.
