Property owner arrested after death of couple, children in Enugu

The police in Enugu State have arrested the owner of the building from where a concrete water tank reservoir fell and killed a couple and their children in the state.

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The police spokesperson in Enugu State, Daniel Ndukwe, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday night.

PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported that a couple and their children were killed on 18 September when a head tank fell on their building.

The incident occurred in Nenwenta, a community in Awgu Local Government Area of the state.

Arrest of the property owner

In the statement, Mr Ndukwe, a superintendent of police, clarified that although the concrete head tank fell on the couple, a grandmother and three children, one of the children was rescued alive.

The spokesperson said five people were killed in the incident. He identified the arrested property owner as Onyedikachi Nkwo.

How it happened

Mr Ndukwe said the police in the state had received information about the incident at about 5 a.m. on 18 September.

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“At about 5:45 a.m. of the same date, the Police received information that the reservoir, attached to an uncompleted building, had collapsed onto the adjoining house of a neighbour, identified as Raphael Onwu (male).

“Onwu, his wife, mother and two children died in the incident,” he said.

The spokesperson narrated that police operatives from Awgu Division visited the scene of the incident and rescued a 9-year-old boy and took him to hospital for treatment.

He said the operatives were supported during the rescue operation by personnel of the National Emergency Management Agency and community members.

“The five deceased family members were recovered and taken to the hospital, where they were confirmed dead before their remains were deposited at the mortuary for preservation and autopsy,” he said.

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Investigation

Mr Ndukwe said the Commissioner of Police in the state, Bitrus Giwa, has ordered an investigation into the incident.

He said the investigation would establish the circumstances surrounding the tragic incident.

Mr Giwa, he said, has commiserated with relatives of the victims as well as the community over the unfortunate incident.

The commissioner assured that appropriate action would follow the outcome of the investigation.

The police chief urged the public to avoid unsafe construction of any kind of structures and ensure compliance with approved safety standards by engaging qualified professionals.