In the early hours of Monday, a man whose identity remains unknown reportedly fell from one of the upper floors of the iconic 26-storey Cocoa House building in Ibadan, Oyo State. The incident caused widespread panic among the business community situated within the building.
An eyewitness recounted the moment, saying, “When the incident happened, I initially thought it was a large bird falling from the sky. 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 witness added, “The victim first hit a roof beside the security post of the building before landing on the ground. It was a terrifying sight.”
As investigations continue, the circumstances surrounding the fall remain unclear.
Odu’a Investment Company Limited, which manages Cocoa House, confirmed the incident in a statement issued Tuesday in Ibadan. Victor Ayetoro, Head of Branding and Communication, said, “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.”
Cocoa House, completed in 1964 and commissioned in 1965, stands at 105 meters and is the first skyscraper in West Africa. It was built with proceeds from cocoa exportation and remains a landmark in Ibadan’s commercial district.
