Pregnant Woman, Three Children Trapped in Abuja Supermarket Elevator; Family Threatens Legal Action

A pregnant woman, Mrs. Sandra Malgwi-Dagala, has threatened to sue Sahad Stores in Abuja after she and her three young children were trapped for approximately 20 minutes inside a faulty elevator at the supermarket’s premises.

The incident occurred on the afternoon of December 5, 2025, at the store’s location on Tafawa Balewa Road in the Central Business District. According to a formal letter from her lawyers, Mrs. Malgwi-Dagala was shopping with her children, aged 1, 4, and 12, and a friend when the elevator they boarded malfunctioned shortly after ascent, allegedly due to a power outage.

The letter describes a failed emergency response: the elevator’s internal emergency system was unresponsive, and calls to a posted emergency number, though answered, did not result in rescue personnel arriving. During the ordeal, Mrs. Malgwi-Dagala, who is asthmatic, and her claustrophobic friend experienced significant distress, while the children were frightened and crying.

With no help forthcoming, the group eventually forced the elevator doors open themselves to find the cab stalled level with the third floor, allowing them to escape. The legal notice states that store staff were dismissive when the incident was reported and that a proper apology was never offered.

Through her legal representatives, Mrs. Malgwi-Dagala is demanding financial compensation for the distress caused, a formal written apology, and documented assurances that elevator safety and emergency protocols have been rectified. The supermarket has been given 21 days to respond before the matter is escalated to the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) and the courts.

As of the latest reports, Sahad Stores has not issued a public response to the allegations or the legal demands.