Tragedy in Aba: Billboard Collapse Kills 27-Year-Old Man, Injures Eight Others During Rainstorm
- Victor Nwoko
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
A tragic incident occurred on Wednesday in Aba, Abia State, when a large advertising billboard collapsed during a severe rainstorm, killing a young man, Destiny Uguru, and injuring eight others. The accident took place near the busy Salad Market junction along the Aba-Owerri Road, where several residents had sought shelter from the storm.
Uguru, a 27-year-old indigene of Izzi in Ebonyi State, was taking cover inside a tricycle parked close to the billboard when the structure gave way under the force of strong winds and heavy rainfall. He died on the spot, while eight other victims sustained varying degrees of injuries and were immediately taken to the Abia State University Teaching Hospital (ABSUTH) for treatment.
According to an eyewitness, Chinedu Nwaibo, a relative of the deceased, several community members had initially sought refuge in a makeshift shanty nearby, but some opted instead to wait out the storm in their tricycles. Tragically, that decision cost Uguru his life.
“They complained that my shanty wasn’t comfortable, so they moved to their tricycles. Not long after, the billboard crashed, killing Destiny and injuring others,” Nwaibo recounted. “He had two children and a pregnant wife. He was only 27 years old.”
Nwaibo appealed to the state government to support the victims and their families, describing them as hardworking men trying to make a living on the streets of Aba.
Responding to the tragedy, the Managing Director and CEO of the Abia State Structures for Signage and Advertising Agency, Mrs. Victoria Onwubiko, visited the victims at ABSUTH and assured that the state government would foot all medical bills. She confirmed that five injured victims remain hospitalized, while three others have been discharged.
“This incident is deeply painful. The governor has directed that everything needed for the treatment of the victims be done without delay. From all indications, they are stable and recovering well,” she said.
Speaking on the collapsed billboard, Onwubiko revealed that the structure had been installed about five years ago but did not meet the technical standards required for such installations.
“Apparently, no technically qualified personnel supervised its erection. That failure led to this avoidable tragedy,” she stated. “Moving forward, every signage project in the state will undergo strict technical evaluation. Any billboard without approved technical drawings will be dismantled immediately.”
Onwubiko also confirmed that the government is in contact with the deceased’s family and will continue discussions to support them during this difficult time. She emphasized that site inspections across the state will now be intensified to prevent future occurrences of structural failures.
“We are instituting a statewide structural inspection of all existing billboards. Any structure found to be unstable or lacking proper documentation will be taken down to protect lives,” she added.
The remains of Destiny Uguru have been deposited in a mortuary, as his family and community mourn the loss of a young man whose life was cut short in a devastating incident that has raised serious concerns about infrastructure safety in urban areas.
A large iron billboard reportedly collapsed onto several moving tricycles
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