Building owner arrested after family tragedy in Enugu

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

The police spokesperson in Enugu, Daniel Ndukwe, shared this news in a statement on Thursday night.

PREMIUM TIMES reported earlier that the couple and their children lost their lives on 18 September when the tank fell on their house.

This sad event took place in Nenwenta, a community in Awgu Local Government Area.

In the statement, Mr Ndukwe, a police superintendent, explained that the tank fell on the couple, their grandmother, and three children, but one child was saved.

He confirmed that five people died in this incident. The arrested property owner is Onyedikachi Nkwo.

Mr Ndukwe mentioned that the police got the news about the incident around 5 a.m. on 18 September.

"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)," he said.

"Onwu, his wife, mother, and two children died in the incident," he added.

The spokesperson stated that police from Awgu Division went to the scene and rescued a 9-year-old boy, taking him to the hospital for treatment.

He said the police were helped in the rescue by 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 bodies were sent to the mortuary for preservation and autopsy," he explained.

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

He noted that the investigation would find out what led to this unfortunate incident.

Mr Giwa expressed condolences to the victims' families and the community over this tragedy.

The commissioner promised that appropriate actions would follow the investigation's results.

He urged the public to avoid unsafe building practices and to stick to approved safety standards by hiring qualified professionals.