One person has been arrested following the collapse of a building in the Independent Layout area of Enugu State, which killed one person and left four others injured.

The incident occurred at about 6am on Sunday, according to officials. Emergency responders were alerted that people were trapped beneath the rubble and immediately began search-and-rescue operations. An excavator was later deployed to assist with clearing the debris.

The joint rescue team recovered the body of a male victim at about 11:20am. Four other occupants were rescued alive and taken to a hospital for medical attention. Two of those rescued reportedly sustained minor injuries.

The Executive Chairman of the Enugu Capital Territory Development Agency, Uche Anya, said the property had been approved in 2021 but was subsequently sealed after officials identified structural integrity concerns and non-compliance with the approved building plan.

According to Anya, he personally led an inspection of the property and issued a stop-work order after the agency discovered what he described as serious structural and regulatory issues.

The chairman said the developer’s representative, who reportedly resides abroad, had been engaging with the agency for about 30 to 40 days over the regulatory concerns before the collapse occurred.

Anya confirmed that the representative had been handed over to the police to assist with investigations, stressing that the action was not necessarily an indication that the individual was being detained or had been found guilty of any offence.

The Director of the Enugu State Fire Service, Okwudiri Oha, said the security guard at the site told rescuers that six people had slept in the uncompleted building, although one person had left before the collapse.

Meanwhile, the Enugu State Emergency Management Agency said the entire wreckage would be excavated to determine whether anyone else remained trapped beneath the debris.

Authorities are expected to continue investigations into the circumstances surrounding the collapse, including the alleged structural defects and failure to comply with approved building requirements.