The mosque’s Chairman revealed that he was inside the building at the time of its collapse.
Kazeem Babatunde, one of the survivors of the collapsed mosque in Papa Ajao, Mushin, recounted his terrifying experience, narrowly escaping death.
Babatunde, currently receiving treatment at the Mukaz Convalescent Health Centre in Mushin, shared with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday how shocked he was when the building started to collapse during afternoon prayers at the Mosjid Mutimain Mosque on 64 Shotinoye Street, Papa Ajao area in Mushin.
He recounted being injured in the head and leg, expressing gratitude for surviving but sadness over the loss of a 10-year-old girl. As the second in command after the Imam, Babatunde ensured everyone ran to safety.
Qasim Keshinro, the mosque’s Chairman, also shared his experience, recounting being in the building when it collapsed around 1:10 p.m. He noted the construction workers clearing the gutter had inadvertently touched part of the mosque, leading to the incident. Keshinro sustained injuries and witnessed the tragic death of a 10-year-old girl.
Despite calling Lagos State Emergency Management Agency for help, they did not arrive on time. Keshinro emphasized the urgent need for a new mosque for the community, as the collapsed building was the only central mosque in the area.
The Chief Imam of Lagos, Sheikh Sulaimon Oluwatoyin, visited to commiserate and stressed the importance of safety, urging adherence to safety rules and regulations to prevent such tragedies in the future. He called for prayers for the bereaved families and emphasized the need for lawfulness and community development.
