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Enugu Reservoir Collapse: Police Arrest Building Owner After Five Family Members Died
Enugu Reservoir Collapse: Police Arrest Building Owner After Five Family Members Died
NEWS
The Nigerian Record
9/25/20261 min read
The Enugu State Police Command has arrested the owner of an uncompleted building whose concrete water reservoir collapsed and killed five members of a neighbouring family in the Awgu Local Government Area.
The command disclosed the arrest on Thursday, adding that the Commissioner of Police, Enugu State Command, Mamman Bitrus Giwa, has ordered a thorough investigation into the incident.
SaharaReporters gathered that the unfortunate incident occurred in the early hours of September 18, 2026, at Umuike-Aja Village, Nenwenta Community, Awgu Local Government Area.
However, in a statement made available to SaharaReporters which was signed by the command's spokesman, SP Daniel Ndukwe, police said they received information at about 5:45 a.m. that the reservoir, attached to an uncompleted building, had collapsed onto the adjoining house of a neighbour identified as Raphael Onwu.
Onwu, his wife, his mother and two children died in the incident.
Police operatives from Awgu Division promptly mobilised to the scene and, with support from the National Emergency Management Agency and community members, rescued a 9-year-old male child. The child was taken to hospital and is receiving treatment.
The five deceased family members were recovered and taken to hospital, where they were confirmed dead before their remains were deposited at the mortuary for preservation and autopsy.
The owner of the building on which the reservoir was constructed, Nkwo Onyedikachi Geoffrey, has been arrested in connection with the tragic incident.
The Commissioner of Police condoled with the bereaved family and the community, and assured that appropriate action would follow the outcome of the investigation.
He urged the public to avoid unsafe construction of any kind of structures and to ensure compliance with approved safety standards by engaging qualified professionals.