Scores Feared Dead, as Reconstructed Ekeoha Shopping Complex Collapses in Aba

Tragedy struck today on (Tuesday, October 21, 2025) in Aba, Abia State, when a section of the popular Ekeoha Shopping Complex, one of the city’s busiest commercial centers, collapsed while construction workers and traders were on site.

Eyewitnesses described chaotic scenes as the building caved in without warning, sending shoppers and artisans running for safety while others were trapped beneath the rubble. Emergency responders and volunteers were seen battling frantically to rescue victims.

Unconfirmed reports indicate that scores of people were feared dead, while many others sustained varying degrees of injury. The exact number of casualties, however, could not be immediately ascertained at the time of filing this report.

The ill-fated structure is part of an ongoing reconstruction project initiated by Governor Alex Otti’s administration to modernize the decades-old Ekeoha market. Some local sources alleged that the incident may have been triggered by the use of substandard materials and poor structural reinforcements.

However, these claims remain unverified as government officials and contractors have yet to comment on the alleged cause of the collapse.

Rescue operations were still ongoing as of press time, with security operatives cordoning off the area to prevent further casualties. Traders and residents have called on the Abia State Government to conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the disaster and to ensure that those found culpable are held accountable.

The state government was yet to issue an official statement on the incident as of the time of filing this report.