A source in Nnewi told DAILY POST that the expatriates were mainly masons and tillers and other site workers who hail from the neighbouring West African countries.
The source said the incident happened on Wednesday night and has generated a lot of tension in the industrial town of Nnewi.
The source said rescue workers were already at the scene trying to rescue victims, while security agents were also at the site.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Haruna Mohammed confirmed the story, stating that it happened on Wednesday.
He said nine of the expatriates had been rescued alive, while rescue workers were working assiduously to rescue the remaining two.
He said,” A distress call was received from the vigilante group in Okpuno that a three Storeyed building belonging to one Mr Avoyi Collins collapsed at Okpuno Otolo in Nnewi LGA of Anambra State.
“Police Patrol teams led by the Area Commander Nnewi, Nnanna Ama rushed to the Scene and cordoned off the Area to prevent looters from taking advantage of the situation to steal.
“Volunteers were also mobilised for the rescue of trapped victims including 11 foreign masons from the Republic of Togo.
“So far, nine of them were rescued alive from the collapsed building while efforts are ongoing to rescue two others who are still trapped inside the debris.
“The rescued victims were rushed to the Community Health Center Okpuno for medical attention and investigation is ongoing to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the incident”.
It could not be ascertained as at the time of filing this report why the building collapsed.
