Horror struck in Enugu State on Sunday when an uncompleted four-storey building collapsed at Independence Layout, leaving one person dead and others feared trapped beneath the rubble.

The National Emergency Management Agency confirmed that the incident occurred at about 6am on September 13, 2026.

NEMA’s Press Unit disclosed this in a statement signed by Manzo Ezekiel and posted on the agency’s X handle.

SEE MORE: NEMA Urges Federal Government Aid As Flood Forces Adamawa Residents To Flee

Following the collapse, NEMA Director-General, Mrs Zubaida Umar, immediately directed the agency’s Enugu Operations Office to deploy an Emergency Rescue Team to the scene and coordinate rescue efforts with relevant stakeholders.

According to the agency, the rescue team was informed upon arrival that some people were trapped beneath the rubble and immediately commenced search and rescue operations.

An excavator was mobilised to assist responders in removing the debris and reaching the trapped victims.

NEMA said that as of 11:20am, the joint rescue team had recovered the lifeless body of one male victim from the collapsed structure.

The agency said rescue operations were still ongoing as emergency responders continued searching through the debris to determine whether other victims remained trapped.

The operation is being coordinated by NEMA in collaboration with the Enugu State Emergency Management Agency, the Nigeria Police Force, the Enugu State Fire and Rescue Service, the Enugu State Capital Territory Development Authority and the Enugu State Ministry of Works and Infrastructure.

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke has tasked residents in the state to help beef up security by reporting suspicious movements or individuals in their areas or neighbourhood to security agencies promptly.

According to a government house statement on Sunday in Osogbo, he made the appeal in response to reported planned terrorist attacks on places of worship in Osun State, and called on the members of the public to alert security agencies if they notice an influx of strange faces especially across the border communities.

He said, “We must provide the police and other security agencies with intelligence reports, with noticeable threats, in our communities. As we are aware of alleged plots to attack our places of worship, we must become extra vigilant. Report anything unusual without any delay.

“I commend the Department of State Service (DSS) for taking proactive measures to counter the threats. I charge other security agencies to review the situation and develop an action plan to strengthen security of lives and properties.”

READ ALSO: 2027: Sowore Unveils Sweeping Agenda, Says AAC Will Transform Nigeria

On his proactive steps to ensure security of lives and property, Gov Adeleke said, “I will soon convey the State Security Council meeting to assess the situation and the workability of our response plans. As residents of this state, we must collaborate with the security agencies through information sharing.

“We should be wary of people we host in our communities. On this note, I charge our royal fathers to also host their traditional council meetings on this development. We must nip in the bud the evil plans of enemies of public peace.

“Our administration is committed to post-election peace building and we must tighten state security to foil any attempt by terrorists and bandits to disrupt public peace”, Governor Adeleke was quoted as saying in the news release.”

A war of words has erupted between Rufai Oseni and the Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, over the case of a Nigerian, Ekene, who is reportedly stranded in India.

Oseni, in a series of posts on X on Sunday morning, accused NiDCOM of failing to act promptly after he forwarded details of Ekene’s case to the commission.

According to Oseni, NiDCOM received his email last Monday but did not provide a response until Sunday morning, after he raised the matter publicly on Saturday.

SEE ALSO: Actor Yul Edochie Criticizes Rufai Oseni Over APC Chieftain Spat [Video]

“After I brought the matter to the front burner again. At 7.59am, NIDCOM just gave an update on the matter and they said nothing tangible!” Oseni wrote.

He alleged that the response was sent only after he publicly criticised the commission, describing the development as “pure inefficiency” and urging Nigerians to focus on helping Ekene return home.

Oseni also said a Nigerian had offered to assist Ekene in returning to Nigeria, adding that he would continue speaking about the case until Ekene was brought home.

Responding to the controversy, Dabiri-Erewa said she had blocked Oseni on X and therefore no longer saw his messages.

“Reply ke? I have blocked him. And many others like him,” she wrote, adding that she was among the earliest government officials to use the platform to respond to and resolve issues but that it had become “a very toxic space.”

Dabiri-Erewa further stated that Arise TV journalist Ojy Okpe had previously contacted her over the matter and that she had provided a formal response which was aired on the Morning Show.

She said Oseni had also been asked to send the necessary details through NiDCOM’s official email, through which he would receive the appropriate response.

According to her, further updates would be provided through NiDCOM’s official social media handles and email.

However, Oseni rejected her explanation and accused the NiDCOM chairman of misrepresenting when the commission responded to his email.

“Madam Abike is lying,” Oseni wrote, insisting that the email response was sent at 7:59am on Sunday, after he had raised the matter publicly the previous day.

He challenged Dabiri-Erewa to publish the timestamp of the email, arguing that it would show when the response was actually sent.

Oseni said he had received no response from NiDCOM since sending the email the previous Monday and accused the commission of attempting to portray itself as proactive after he publicly raised concerns about Ekene’s situation.

He also maintained that his focus was on helping Ekene and other Nigerians facing similar difficulties in India.