Three bodies, including a woman and her daughter, have been recovered from the rubble of the four-storey building that collapsed at Obafemi Awolowo Way by Asuquo J. Okon intersection in Jabi, Abuja on Friday.

Daily Trust learnt that rescue operators, especially the National Emergency Management Agency were forced to resume to the site two days after calling off the operation because residents complained of offensive odours from the area.

The bodies were recovered on Monday during the evacuation of debris.

The Federal Capital Territory Administration and NEMA had on Saturday ended the rescue operation at the site after six persons and one dead body were evacuated from the building on Friday.

But relatives of the victims had protested the decision of the government, insisting that about 18 workers were still trapped under the rubble.

They were dispersed by policemen who fired tear gas and shots into the air.

NEMA boss, Mr Mustapha Maihaja, on Saturday said rescue operations were called off after the Search and Rescue team confirmed that there was no remaining body buried under the rubbles of the collapsed building.

“Seven people were brought out, one was certified dead, one severely wounded among those injured

“This is a professional job, professionals were deployed here. They professionally combed the whole site and they could not find any other than what they were able to get.

“ I think when a professional speak we should respect their opinion,’’ Maihaja said.

•Sourced from a Daily Trust report