Two women have been confirmed dead, while 17 other persons sustained various degrees of injuries following the collapse of market stalls at Urua Edet-Obo, a popular market at Ikot Akpatek in Onna LGA of Akwa Ibom.

The state Police Commissioner, Mr Murtala Mani, confirmed the tragic incident in a telephone conversation with journalists on Monday in Uyo.

“Two women died during the tragedy caused by the collapse of an old wall that fell on them.

“Others who sustained injuries have been taken to the hospital for treatment,” Mani said.

A witness said the remains of the dead victims had been deposited at Immanuel Hospital in Eket, a neighbouring local government area.

The witness added that some of the injured victims, many of them women, were responding to treatment in the hospital.

The incident happened nine days after a Church building collapse claimed scores of lives at Reigners Bible Church in Uyo on Dec. 10.

NAN