Father Of Baby In Collapsed Building Develops Mental Illness

Muda Oyeniran, Lagos - 16.02.2008

The father of a newborn baby who survived in the collapsed building at Oke-popo Area of Lagos and whose wife died in the incident may have developed mental illness.

A source close to the family told Saturday Tribune on Friday that he has remained unconsolable and has been uttering incoherent words after the unfortunate incident.

“You know they are a young couple, and for him to lose his wife in such terrible circumstance could be very shocking. Moreso, other people that died in the incident came to rejoice with the family on the birth of their child. This can definitely drive anybody crazy,” the source said

Meanwhile, four of the survivors who were rushed to a private hospitals on Wednesday evening have been discharged.

One of them, simply identified as ‘Iya Funmilayo’, was full of thanks to God for having survived the incident. The other three have been moved to an undisclosed location.

Saturday Tribune also gathered that one of the survivors, identified as ‘Alhaja Toyin’ is in critical condition at the Lagos Island General Hospital.

However, when Saturday Tribune visited the hospital, a nurse at the emergency ward in the hospital said she had been responding to treatment.

She, however, disclosed that she had her head, legs and arm plastered as a result of the injuries she sustained during the incident.

The baby who survived the tragedy, and who was handed over to the police by the management of Cottage Hospital last Thursday, may have been returned to its familym according to Saturday Tribune’s investigation.

In the meantime, scavengers have taken over the site of the collapsed building. They were seen removing things they considered valuable from the rubble of the building when Saturday Tribune visited the place yesterday.

This almost led to chaos, as residents of the area tried to chase the scavengers away.