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The wall of Urua market Ederebo in Ikot Akpatek in Onna local government area of Akwa Ibom state, collapsed on Monday, December 19, killing two market women.
No fewer than 17 others sustained injuries and were taken to Immanuel General Hospital, Eket for medical attention, The Punch reports.
Scene of the collapsed market wall in Akwa Ibom state
This comes barely nine days after a church building collapsed in the state during the consecration of its pastor as a Bishop, leaving many worshippers dead and others injured.
An eyewitness, Edet Jack, said some of the victims who were thought to have been dead in the incident, were revived on arrival at the hospital.
It was gathered that three years ago, the government renovated some sections of the 60-year old market.
Ephraim Inyangeyen, the commissioner of works, who led an emergency rescue team to the scene of the incident denied that no life was lost, while asking people to stop spreading unverifiable report.
An eyewitness strongly opposed denial by the commissioner that no life was lost in the incident.
Scene of the incident in Akwa Ibom
The eyewitness said: “I do not understand what government hopes to gain by playing down or denying figures of victims of disaster in the state. Last week, the government was busy lying to defend a church whose building collapsed and killed over 100 people due to very glaring technical error.
“Today again, the government team arrived as soon as the incident occurred, and instead of going to Immanuel General Hospital to ascertain if the weak facility can handle the situation, the commissioner turned himself into a journalist to throw intimidating questions at the timid villagers to cover up the situation.”
Meanwhile, the police spokesperson in the state, Cordelia Nwawe, confirmed that two women died in the incident.
She said an old wall fell directly on them and killed them, adding that normal market business is ongoing.
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