In this interview with GRACE EDEMA, 46-year-old Emmanuel Otache relives the night his pregnant wife and three children died in a building collapse at Magodo, Lagos, and his parents were killed by herdsmen in Benue.

Can you take us back to the moment you realised the building had collapsed, and what went through your mind when you couldn’t find your wife and children?

It happened on October 12, 2019, in Magodo, Isheri, Lagos. A building behind my apartment collapsed into my home, killing my pregnant wife and our three children.

I had just returned from a business trip that evening. My wife had cooked and was feeding the children while I went to rest in the sitting room. Suddenly, I heard a loud sound, like thunder. Before I could make sense of it, everything came crashing down.

I don’t remember what happened next. When I regained consciousness seven months later, I was in the hospital, covered in bandages. That was when they told me my wife and children didn’t survive.

How did you feel when you heard the sad news?

It felt like dying while still alive. I couldn’t speak for days after coming out of the coma. I didn’t believe it until they showed me their pictures. I had lost everything: my family, business, and home. Life stopped for me that day.

How did you survive the incident?

I was in a coma for seven months after undergoing multiple surgeries. When I eventually woke up, the first thing I asked about was my wife and children. That was when they told me all of them were gone.

You mentioned something about a metal in your body. Can you explain?

Yes. During one of the surgeries, doctors inserted an iron rod from my waist down to my knees. The surgery was carried out at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja.

Why was that necessary?

The collapse badly damaged my legs and waist. The doctors said the iron rod would help me stand and move again after healing.

When did the doctors say it would be due for removal?

They told me it should be removed after two or three years.

That means it should have been removed by now?

Yes. It became due around 2021 or 2022, but I couldn’t raise the money for the surgery. I was told the cost would be about N15m.

What were you doing for a living before the incident?

I was selling mobile phones and accessories; gadgets, chargers, and phone parts.

Were you the owner of the building that collapsed?

No, I wasn’t. It was a rented apartment.

Was your family the only one affected in that building?

Yes. There were two flats at the back. My neighbour had travelled, and the landlord’s children were not around. That night, only my wife and three children were in the apartment. They all died in their sleep.

How have you been coping since then?

After the collapse, I left Lagos and returned to my village, Opaha, in Benue State. But life became even harder. In 2023, herdsmen attacked our community and killed 95 people, including my father, mother, uncles, and some of my siblings. I lost almost everyone again.

How did you survive that attack?

When the attack started around 3 p.m. on April 24. One of my uncles locked me inside the kitchen and covered me with a tarpaulin. The herdsmen were shooting and burning houses from 3 p.m. until about 11 p.m. It was like a war.

By the time the Nigerian Army, police, and other security personnel arrived from Makurdi around 4 a.m., I was lying lifeless under the tarpaulin. They thought I was dead. But when they lifted the cover, they discovered I was still breathing faintly.

I was taken to the local government headquarters and then to a private hospital, where I regained consciousness.

So your father and mother died that day?

Yes. They were among the 95 people killed, along with some uncles and four of my siblings.

You mentioned another attack in 2025?

Yes. There was another attack in May 2025. I wasn’t in the community then because I had already left for Lagos. That attack destroyed what was left of my family home. Everything we had was gone.

How did you manage to return to Lagos?

After the 2023 attack, I stayed briefly in the village church, which gave me shelter. But life became too difficult, so I returned to Lagos through AKC Transport in May 2025, hoping to raise money for my surgery and start a new life.

Where do you live now?

I live with a friend at Adamo Elias in Ikorodu, Lagos. He used to ride an okada for a living and helps me as much as he can. But his bike was stolen, and now he works as a security guard. Life has been really difficult for both of us.

Are you doing any work now?

No. I wish I could, but my condition doesn’t allow it. I use two crutches, and it’s hard to move or stand for long.

When was the last time you went back to the hospital?

In 2022, I visited LASUTH. I was told the iron rod was due for removal, with an estimated cost of about N15m. I don’t know how much it would cost today, as I cannot afford a re-evaluation.

Did the government or anyone help you after the collapse?

No. I wrote letters to the Kosofe Local Government Chairman, the Governor of Lagos State, and even my state governor in Benue, but there was no response. I have been struggling on my own ever since.

How do you manage your daily life now?

I depend on the little my friend provides. Sometimes neighbours help with food. There are days I don’t eat anything at all. The iron in my body makes movement painful, and I can’t do any heavy work. I mostly stay indoors and pray for strength.

Do you take any medication for the pain?

Yes. I take painkillers whenever I can afford them. Sometimes, I visit a nearby pharmacy to explain my condition, and they help in whatever way they can.

What exactly do you need from the government and the public now?

I need help to remove the iron. The pain has become unbearable. I also need support to restart my phone accessories business so that I can take care of myself again. I am not lazy; I just need a second chance to live.

I plead with Nigerians, the government, churches, NGOs, and kind-hearted individuals to help me. I have suffered too much. I have lost my wife, children, parents, and everything I had. All I want now is the opportunity to live a normal life again.

How do you keep hope alive despite all you’ve been through?

My faith in God keeps me going. I believe that as long as I am still alive, there is hope. I have faced death many times, yet God spared me. That’s why I still believe that one day, help will come. (Saturday PUNCH)