Panic gripped the business district in Ibadan on Monday morning after a yet-to-be-identified man reportedly fell from one of the upper floors of the iconic 26-storey Cocoa House building in Oyo State.
The shocking incident occurred in the early hours of the day, leaving onlookers and nearby workers in disbelief.
An eyewitness, recounting the harrowing moment, said:
“At first, I thought it was a huge bird falling from the sky. It wasn’t until the person hit the ground that I realised it was a human being. I had my phone with me but I was too stunned to record anything.”
Another eyewitness added that the victim struck a roof beside the security post before hitting the ground, describing the scene as “terrifying.”
As of the time of reporting, details surrounding the circumstances of the fall remain unclear, with an investigation currently underway to determine the cause of the incident.
In an official statement released on Tuesday, Odu’a Investment Company Limited — the firm managing Cocoa House — confirmed the incident and assured the public of its ongoing cooperation with the authorities.
Victor Ayetoro, Head of Branding and Communication for the company, stated:
“The individual involved was swiftly attended to by emergency responders and taken to the University College Hospital, Ibadan, for urgent medical attention. We are deeply concerned about this development and are fully committed to supporting the investigation.”
Cocoa House, an iconic 26-storey skyscraper and a historic landmark in Ibadan, has long stood as a symbol of economic growth and development in the South-West. This incident has raised safety concerns among business owners and visitors to the building.
Authorities have urged members of the public to remain calm as investigations continue.
