Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Tragedy struck the Ikot Effanga community along Old Odukpani Road in Calabar, Cross River State, in the early hours of Friday, August 28, 2026, when a refuse dump collapsed onto a building, killing two occupants. The Cross River State Police Command confirmed the incident in a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Sunday Eitokpah, on Friday.
According to the police, the incident occurred in the early hours of Friday when the collapsed refuse impacted a building reportedly constructed within a valley. Police personnel responded promptly to the scene. The victims were identified as Nfon Imé, a male, and an unidentified female, who were believed to have been in the building at the time of the incident. Their bodies were recovered and deposited at the mortuary.
The police spokesperson said an assessment of the circumstances surrounding the incident was ongoing, while further investigation had commenced. “The Command is currently conducting an assessment of the circumstances surrounding the incident, while further investigation is ongoing,” ASP Eitokpah said. The command urged members of the public to remain calm and avoid speculation as efforts continued to establish the full facts surrounding the incident. Further details will be communicated as soon as they are verified and available.
The incident has raised fresh concerns about poor waste disposal practices and unsafe building construction in Calabar. The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has previously attributed recurring flooding and landslides in the city to the indiscriminate dumping of refuse in drainage channels and waterways. In July 2026, NEMA warned that blocked drains caused by refuse dumping remained one of the major factors responsible for worsening flood incidents across Calabar. The agency also noted that poor environmental practices had led to building collapses and loss of lives in the city.
The tragedy at Ikot Effanga is the latest in a series of building collapses and environmental disasters in Calabar. In August 2026, a hospital building in Calabar collapsed following a landslide triggered by heavy rainfall and soil erosion. In July 2026, heavy rainfall claimed two lives and left several others injured, with many buildings and fences collapsing. The recurring disasters have prompted calls for stricter enforcement of building codes and environmental regulations to prevent further loss of lives.
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