WorldStage– The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has revealed fresh details following the sudden collapse of a three-storey commercial building on Abidjan Street, Wuse Zone 3, Abuja.
The disaster, which occurred at approximately 7:45 p.m. on Monday, September 8, 2026, sparked an immediate and intensive multi-agency emergency response.
As the investigation deepens, police authorities are uncovering critical timelines regarding structural warnings that preceded the incident.
According to a press statement released on Tuesday, September 9, 2026 by the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, preliminary findings indicate that the structure had previously been marked and officially sealed by the Department of Development Control.
Investigators revealed that a supporting pillar had failed earlier in the year and that the deterioration prompted regulatory officials to issue a strict quit notice and eviction directive to the occupants just hours before the structure caved in.
The FCT Police Command, led on-site by the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Department of Operations, ACP Edward Akaniyene, and the Area Commander, Metro, ACP Georgelyn Ufomadu, confirmed that no casualties have been recorded so far.
Police credited the lack of fatalities to the last-minute evacuation advisory given to occupants after visible cracks worsened throughout Monday.
However, heavy-duty excavation equipment, including payloaders, remains active as emergency workers continue to clear the debris.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Federal Fire Service are systematically combing the rubble to ensure no individuals or scavengers are trapped underneath.
The investigation has now widened to evaluate potential criminal negligence. Authorities are looking into why structural modifications continued despite the property being flagged for demolition.
The police are tracking down the developers and property managers to determine why the initial enforcement notices were ignored for months, allowing the building to deteriorate into a public hazard.
FCT Police Command has appealed to the public to remain calm and strictly avoid the perimeter of the disaster zone to allow rescue operations to conclude safely.
It urged property owners across Abuja are to adhere strictly to engineering regulations and building codes to prevent future tragedies.
