Morning activities at the Cocoa House in Ibadan, Oyo State, were thrown into chaos on Monday after a man reportedly fell from one of the top floors of the 26-storey building, triggering fear and confusion among onlookers and business occupants.
The man, whose identity had yet to be confirmed as of press time, was quickly attended to by emergency responders and rushed to the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, for urgent medical care.
Eyewitnesses described the harrowing moment of the fall, which left many in disbelief.
“When the incident happened, I initially thought it was a large bird falling from the sky,” one witness said.
“It was only when the person landed that I realised it was a human being. I had my phone with me but I couldn’t even record anything because I was completely shocked.”
Another eyewitness added: “The victim first hit a roof beside the security post of the building before landing on the ground. It was a terrifying sight.”
The incident has since raised safety concerns, although the cause of the fall remains unclear. Authorities are continuing their investigation into what led to the occurrence.
Odu’a Investment Company Limited, managers of the Cocoa House, confirmed the incident in a statement released on Tuesday in Ibadan.
Victor Ayetoro, the Head of Branding and Communication for the firm, stated:
“The individual involved was swiftly attended to by the emergency response team and taken to the University College Hospital, Ibadan, for urgent medical attention.”
“The company expressed deep concerns over the development and assured the public of its full cooperation with authorities investigating the cause of the fall,” he added.
Built in the 1960s, Cocoa House remains one of Nigeria’s most prominent commercial landmarks and West Africa’s first skyscraper, standing tall in the bustling Dugbe area of Ibadan.
