Joy Anyim
Two lives were reportedly lost, while eight others were injured, when a perimeter fence at the slaughter section of the Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture owned Abattoir at Oko-Oba, collapsed last Wednesday.
It was gathered that the incident happened around 8:30 a.m. on the said day, as two females, a male and a child were part of the fatalities.
The correspondent also visited the scene on Monday, and the debris of the fallen fence were still laying fallow, confirming the incident.
Ishiaku Onatunde, a slaughterhouse worker who spoke on the incident, revealed that the foundation of the perimeter fence was not firmly constructed, which led to the collapse.
He said: “Ideally, the government should have constructed the fence on a strong foundation knowing that we use a lot of water in our daily routine as slaughterers.
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Onatunde alleged that workers of the slaughterhouse met with the organisation overseeing the abattoir for the government, Harmony Abattoir Investment Limited, for compensation of the victims that suffered the ill fate, but were told there was no provision for such.
“The managers of the abattoir said that they had no resources on ground to compensate the victims of the tragic incident,” he said.
Contacted for comments, the Managing Director of Harmony Abattoir Investment Limited, simply identified as Mr. Bello denied the allegation, saying, “Two persons died from the collapsed fence, while some others where injured. One of those who died, died in the spot, the other died at the hospital.
“ We were the first emergency responders on the day of the incident, we took the victims to a private hospital, and the Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture had promised to take care of the hospital bills. Even the Permanent Secretary of the ministry was here after the incident. I would also want to refer you to the ministry, you can get more details there.”
Also speaking on the incident, the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Abattoir Police Station, CSP Kenneth Iyayi maintained that only two persons died from the incident while eight people were injured.
Iyayi said that those that were injured were promptly taken to Merit Hosptail at Oko-Oba and General Hospital, Ile-Epo in Oke Odo area of Lagos State.
Meanwhile, the Head, Public Affairs Officer, Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture, Mr. Jide Lawal who could have given an accurate account of the incident said that he was not in a position to reveal details of the incident.
Lawal said that he would have to be authorised by the Commissioner of the Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture whom he said was in an important meeting as at press time.
