A middle-aged man, Ifeanyi Nzeakor, of Mgbarakuma community at Ubalaka in Umuahia South Local Government Area of Abia State has been killed when a stall collapsed at the old Umuahia Main Market.
An eyewitness, who is also a relation of the deceased, David Ibeji, told the News Agency of Nigeria at the site of the incident that the structure collapsed on Nzeakor in the early hours of Sunday when he was scavenging for rods at the site.
The stalls are currently being demolished by the State Government six days after traders were relocated to a permanent site at Ubani Ibeku.
Ibeji, who was weeping beside the lifeless body of the deceased, said he and the deceased had gone to scavenge for rods the victim wanted to use for his building project when the incident happened.
He said that one of the stalls collapsed and hit Nzeakor on the head and he died instantly.
Ibeji said: “The deceased was my relation and he was a commercial motorcycle driver.
“We came here to scavenge for rods that he will use on his building that is under construction.”
Ibeji said that the stall collapsed while the deceased was trying to pull out a lengthy rod from the debris.
The Commander-General of the Abia State Vigilance Services, Martins Mba, who was also at the scene of the incident, told NAN that his men had warned the scavengers to steer clear of the site in order not to endanger their lives.
“We have been providing security here and we have been warning these boys not to come into this place for their own safety,” Mba said.
The spokesman of the Abia State Police Command, Geoffrey Ogbonna, said he was yet to receive report on the incident.
“It is unfortunate but I am yet to receive such report,” Ogbonna stated.
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