According to Saturday PUNCH, 46-year-old Emmanuel Otache recounts in an interview the events of the night his parents were murdered by Fulani herdsmen in Benue, and his pregnant wife and three children perished in a building collapse in Magodo, Lagos.
Key points:
Could you please reminisce about the time you realized the building had collapsed and describe your thoughts when you couldn’t locate your family?
Magodo, Isheri, Lagos was the site on October 12, 2019. My pregnant wife and three children were killed when a building behind our apartment collapsed into our home.
That evening, I had just gotten back from a work trip. While my wife was in the kitchen preparing meals for the kids, I retired to the living room to get some rest. An ear-piercing, thunderous screech came from out of nowhere. Everything fell apart just as I was beginning to make sense of it.
What followed is a mystery to me. Seven months after losing consciousness, I was sprawled across the hospital floor, encased in bandages. At that point, I learned that my family had perished.
Upon hearing the unfortunate news, how did you react?
It was as if I were to die yet alive. When I finally came out of the coma, I was speechless for days. Until they showed me the photos, I didn’t think it was true. I had lost my house, my family, and my business. It was the day my world came to a halt.
You made it through the situation, right?
Following a battery of operations, I spent seven months in a coma. I wanted to know how my family was doing as soon as I regained consciousness. At that point, I was informed that they had all departed.
Some metal in your body was brought up by you. Give me an example.
Yes. An iron rod was threaded from my waist all the way down to my knees during one of the surgeries. Ikeja, the teaching hospital of Lagos State University, was the site of the operation.
So why was that ever needed?
My waist and legs were severely injured in the collapse. After I healed, the physicians assured me that the iron rod would be my key to mobility.
What date did the physicians give for its removal?
They informed me that after two or three years, it should be removed.
So, surely it ought to have been disposed of by now?
Yes. I was unable to secure funding for the surgery, so it was overdue by 2021 or 2022. Someone informed me that it will cost around N15 million.
Before this happened, what did you do for a living?
I was peddling various mobile phone components, chargers, and accessories.
Was the building that fell on you the owner?
I wasn’t, sorry. The unit was for rent.
Was the constructing a problem for everyone or just your family?
Yes. At the rear, you could see two apartments. The children of the landlord were not present, and my neighbor had gone on a trip. That evening, the flat was occupied solely by my wife and our three children. As they slept, they all passed away.
So far, how are you holding up?
I departed from Lagos and went back to my hometown of Opaha in Benue State after the building fell. However, everything hit rock bottom. I lost my parents, uncles, and several siblings in the 2023 attack on our village by Fulani herdsmen, who slaughtered 95 people. Another time, I lost nearly everyone.
How were you able to escape that assault?
It was at approximately 3 p.m. on April 24th that the assault began. Wrapped in a tarp, one of my uncles confined me to the kitchen. Houses were set on fire and shot at by the herdsmen between 3 and 11 o’clock in the evening. Like a war, it broke out.
I was already lying still beneath the tarp when the Nigerian Army, police, and other security forces arrived from Makurdi at about 4 a.m. They assumed I had passed away. However, when uncovering the cover, they found that I was still giving a weak breath.
Upon arrival at a private hospital, I was sent to the local government offices, where I eventually became awake again.
Did both of your parents pass away on that fateful day?
Yes. They were among the ninety-five casualties, which also included four of my siblings and a number of relatives.
In 2025, you said there would be another attack?
Yes. May 2025 saw yet another assault. My departure for Lagos meant that I was no longer a part of the community at that time. The remnants of my family’s home were leveled in that attack. We lost everything.
In what ways were you able to get back to Lagos?
Following the assault in 2023, I sought refuge in the local church for a short period of time. I hoped to begin anew in May 2025, when things got too tough, I returned to Lagos via AKTC Transport to gather money for surgery.
Now where are you residing?
In Ikorodu, Lagos, I reside with a friend at Adamo Elias. He lends me a hand whenever he cans; he made a living riding okadas. However, he is now employed as a security guard after having his bike stolen. We have both been through a lot in life.
What are you up to right now?
No. My health prevents me from doing so, as much as I would like to. Both walking and standing are difficult for me, therefore I rely on two crutches.
Just how long has it been since you returned to the hospital?
Lasuth was my destination in 2022. The anticipated cost of removing the iron rod is approximately N15 million, as I was informed. Since a re-evaluation is out of the question financially, I am unaware of the current cost.
When the building fell, did anyone—including the government—come to your aid?
No. No one responded to my letters to the heads of state in Benue, Lagos, and Kosofe, nor to the governor of Lagos State. Since then, I have been battling alone.
Given your current situation, how do you handle the day-to-day tasks?
I rely on the meager resources that my friend offers. Occasionally, neighbors provide food assistance. On certain days, I go without food entirely. Everything hurts when I move, and I can’t lift large objects because of the iron in my body. Whenever I am weak, I stay home and pray for strength.
Is the discomfort something you manage with medication?
Yes. When money permits, I use pain relievers. On occasion, I go to a local pharmacy, explain my situation, and they do their best to assist.
Exactly what are you requesting from the public and the government at this time?
Help me take the iron off. I can no longer stand the agony. So that I can get back on my feet, I’d also like some help getting my phone accessory business up and running. I ask for no slack; all I want is a second shot at life.
Please assist me, Nigerians, government officials, churches, non-governmental organizations, and good-hearted individuals. It has been too much for me. My parents, wife, and children are all gone, and with them, all of my possessions. At this point in time, all I desire is the chance to lead a regular life once more.
After everything you’ve gone through, how can you maintain your optimism?
Having trust in God is what keeps me going. Hope exists, in my opinion, so long as I am physically present. Despite my several brushes with death, God has always spared me. That is why I hold on to the hope that assistance will arrive in due course.
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