Craneburg Workers Protest After Fence Collapse Kills Colleague At Kwara Hotel Site — Third Death In One Week

Tension has erupted at a construction site in Kwara State as workers of Craneburg Construction Company staged a spontaneous protest following the tragic death of a colleague who was crushed when a fence collapsed at a hotel project site.

The horrific incident, which occurred just hours ago, marks the third death linked to Craneburg operations in a single week, sending shockwaves through the local community and sparking public outcry over unsafe labor conditions.

The deceased, whose identity is being withheld pending official family notification, was reportedly working on the perimeter section of the hotel structure when the aged and poorly reinforced fence suddenly gave way.

Eyewitnesses said the collapse happened without warning. There was no loud cracking sound, no sign of instability — just a violent fall, followed by the deafening silence of shock and panic.

“We were working not far from him,” one shaken worker said. “We heard a crash, and when we rushed there, he was already buried under the blocks. There was blood everywhere. He was gone before they could even pull him out.”

Almost immediately, dozens of workers abandoned their tasks and gathered in protest, chanting angrily and demanding that the site be shut down. Many carried placards made from scraps of wood and cardboard, boldly scrawled with phrases like “Stop Killing Us,” “We Are Not Animals,” and “Craneburg Must Answer.” The atmosphere quickly turned chaotic, as local sympathizers and community leaders joined the scene, calling for government intervention.

This latest tragedy comes on the heels of two other reported fatalities involving Craneburg in the past six days — one due to a scaffold collapse and another following the electrocution of a site welder. With three deaths in such a short span, confidence in the construction giant's safety protocols is crumbling. Workers allege that management has ignored repeated warnings about substandard materials and lax safety enforcement, choosing speed and cost-cutting over human life.

“The truth is, they don’t care if we die,” one protester shouted. “As long as the project moves forward and the money flows, we are just numbers to them. They don’t even provide us with real helmets — we use plastic!”

Craneburg, one of Nigeria’s most prominent construction firms, has so far remained silent on the Kwara incident. Calls to their Lagos head office went unanswered, and security officials at the site refused to comment when approached by reporters. A few company representatives were seen being escorted away by police after protesters threatened to block the main highway near the site.

Meanwhile, the body of the deceased has been taken to the state hospital morgue, while grieving colleagues continue to gather outside, refusing to return to work until justice is served and safety is prioritized. The state government has yet to issue a formal statement, but human rights groups are already calling for an independent investigation.

As the dust settles over yet another preventable death, one thing has become chillingly clear: for many laborers on Nigeria’s booming construction sites, every workday could be their last.