By Izunna Okafor, Awka
The Anambra State Police Command, in collaboration with other security and emergency response agencies, has launched rescue operations following the collapse of a three-storey building in Oko, Orumba North Local Government Area of the State.
The building, identified as Elite Five Star Lodge, located beside Tonimas Filling Station, Amokpala, Oko, reportedly collapsed late Sunday night, July 26, 2026, leaving some occupants trapped beneath the rubble.
According to a statement issued on Monday by the Police Public Relations Officer of the Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, the Police-led joint security team mobilised to the scene immediately after receiving the distress report.
The team, he said, secured the area to prevent further danger and coordinated rescue efforts, while the Anambra State Fire Service and the Anambra State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) also responded and joined the ongoing operation.
Ikenga disclosed that some injured victims had already been rescued from the debris and evacuated to a hospital in Oko, where they were receiving medical attention.
He, however, said rescue operations were still ongoing as emergency responders continued efforts to reach other persons who might still be trapped under the rubble.
The Police spokesman noted that the exact number of casualties or affected persons could not yet be confirmed as of the time of the statement.
He urged residents and members of the public to remain calm, avoid spreading unverified information and keep away from the scene to enable emergency responders to operate freely and gain unrestricted access to the affected area.
The PPRO assured that further updates would be communicated as more verified information becomes available regarding the incident.
The incident was corroborated by videos currently trending on social media showing the house and some residents of the area as they bemoan the situation, while also offering rescue assistance.
A masculine voice accompanying the video, however, alleged that the house was a students hostel, adding that the the house did not collapse, but sank.
Watch the video below:
