A man believed to be a scavenger was found dead when a staircase in an abandoned one-storey building reportedly collapsed on him at Elechi Street in the Mile 3 axis of Diobu in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Newsmen who visited the area observed that the one-storey building has been taken over by weeds, while the walls are cracked.
The Chief Security Officer of Nkpolu Oroworukwo Mile 3 Diobu, Mr. Godstime Ihunwo said he received information around 6.15 pm on Wednesday that some hoodlums were in the building smoking substances believed to be hard drugs.
Ihunwo, who is also a member of a vigilante group in the area, said he mobilised his men to the scene and on getting to the area, the hoodlums left.
He stated that the group, Diobu Vigilante Service, had previously been alerted of the activities of miscreants who had converted the building into a smoking point.
He said: “Based on the fresh complaints by residents of 38 Elechi Streets, Mile 3 Diobu, Port Harcourt where hoodlums usually go and smoke hard drugs, I quickly mobilised my men to the scene.
“On getting to the scene, the hoodlums had left the abandoned building. But while we were searching, we saw a lifeless body of a man.
“We also observed that the staircase of the abandoned one-storey building collapsed on the deceased. We quickly raised the alarm which drew the attention of residents of the area who came to the scene.
“We quickly informed the Nkpolu Divisional Police headquarters in Mile 3 Diobu, on the development”.
It was gathered that the police had visited the scene of the incident on Wednesday afternoon.
Spokesperson for the state police command, Deputy Superintendent Grace Iringe-Koko, promised to find out from the Divisional Police Officer and get back to newsmen.
She had yet to do so as of the time of filing this report on Thursday.
