From The Nijasun News Desk
For nearly four agonizing hours, Patrick Ejikeme lay trapped beneath the mangled remains of a collapsed three-storey building, surrounded by darkness, choking dust and uncertainty.
Convinced death was near, he sent what he believed would be his final message to his wife.
“Take care of yourself and our children if I don’t make it.”
That heartbreaking text, sent from beneath tonnes of concrete, became a symbol of hope rather than a farewell.
Ejikeme, 38, was among the survivors rescued after the collapse of the Elite Five Star Lodge in Amaokpala, Oko, Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State.
The building came crashing down on the night of July 26, claiming two lives and leaving several others injured.
Speaking about his ordeal, the transporter from Nawfia said he had ignored visible cracks in the building because he believed the structure was strong enough to withstand them.
“I heard people running downstairs but thought they were escaping criminals. When I opened my balcony door to see what was happening, the building suddenly began collapsing,” he recalled.
A balcony pillar prevented concrete blocks from crushing his head, while his mobile phone remained in his hand throughout the terrifying ordeal. With network service still available beneath the debris, he desperately called relatives before sending the emotional message to his wife when his calls failed.
As rescuers searched frantically, Ejikeme had an idea that eventually saved his life.
“I asked them to switch off their lights so they could locate the light from my phone. That was how they found me,” he said.
He was rushed to hospital, treated for minor injuries and later discharged, although he returned for further medical checks after experiencing pain.
Despite losing virtually everything, Ejikeme says he considers himself fortunate.
“God gave me a second chance. Everything I lost can be replaced, but life cannot. I believe the same God who spared me will help me recover.”
Another survivor, Dim Chike Emmanuel, also described his escape as miraculous. He had joined other occupants fleeing the building after hearing unusual commotion moments before the collapse.
Medical Director of St. Michael Hospital, Dr. Kester Okpala, confirmed that the injured victims suffered only minor injuries and have since been discharged.
The incident has, however, sparked outrage among residents and students of Federal Polytechnic, Oko, many of whom accused the landlord and caretaker of ignoring repeated warnings about cracks in the building.
Several students alleged that complaints about structural defects were dismissed while tenants continued to pay rent and other levies.
“They cared more about collecting money than fixing the building,” one student alleged, calling for those responsible to be prosecuted.
Former National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Public Relations Officer, Comrade Ezefunamba Ifeanyi, praised the swift intervention of government officials and emergency responders, saying their prompt response helped save lives.
Anambra State Government has since sealed the site and commenced investigations into the disaster.
Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Chijioke Oseloka Ojukwu, said preliminary findings point to structural failure allegedly known to the building owners before the tragedy.
He warned that anyone found culpable would face prosecution, while structural integrity tests will be carried out on neighbouring buildings to prevent another disaster.
As investigations continue, the Amaokpala collapse has become a painful reminder of the deadly consequences of neglecting building safety standards.
For Patrick Ejikeme, however, every new day is now a priceless gift.
The text message he thought would be his last has instead become the testimony of a man who stared death in the face—and lived to tell the story.
Tags: Anambra, Building Collapse, Amaokpala, Human Interest, Safety
