The Lagos State Government revealed that 29 families have submitted samples for DNA tests to identify bodies of victims from the collapsed 21-storey building in Ikoyi.

This was disclosed by Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Gbenga Omotoso on Monday.

He added that the identification process continued at the IDH, Yaba, Lagos Mainland and also a committee to supervise the identification and release of the bodies had been set up.

Omotoso said, ”Twenty-nine families have come forward to submit samples for DNA tests to identify bodies that they wish to claim.

“In cases where identification is clear and there are no arguments, the bodies will be released to the families as from this week.

“At the site, the operation continues. It will go on until the site is cleared and no body is left in the rubble of the collapsed 21-storey edifice.”

He added that the Panel of Inquiry set up by the state to find out why the building went down was collecting documents that will help reveal what led to the collapse.

Recall that Lagos State Government earlier disclosed that 38 bodies recovered from the collapse site at Gerard Road, Ikoyi, are ready for identification by families.

Also, Mr Gbenga Omotoso said that “The autopsy is important because the law says that whenever there is death, as a result of such incidents like the collapsed building, an autopsy must be done before the body is released.”

He added that search-and-rescue would continue until the government could account for everybody inside the building at the time of its collapse and certify also that no corpse was left behind in the rubble.

“So far now, we have recorded 38 dead bodies. And as you know, we have nine survivors. Some bodies are ready for identification. So, people can go to IDH, Yaba, to identify the bodies of their loved ones.

“For bodies that may be very difficult to identify, we shall conduct DNA tests for such bodies to be identified. There are rules for giving bodies to people.

“There are some of the bodies that are in a state that it would be unprofessional for the hospitals to allow people to look at them in that present state and for them to be released the way they are.

“That is why we have the little delay that we are having. But if you go to IDH, Yaba, you should be able to see some of the bodies and be able to identify who you want to identify.