AmforGod J. Olisa
A two-story school building collapsed during morning classes on Friday in the North, resulting in the tragic deaths of 22 students and sparking a frantic rescue operation for over 100 others trapped in the debris, authorities reported.
The collapse occurred at Saints Academy College in the Busa Buji community of Plateau state, shortly after students, many aged 15 or younger, had begun their classes.
Initially, 154 students were trapped in the rubble, but according to Plateau police spokesperson Alfred Alabo, 132 students were subsequently rescued and are receiving treatment for injuries at various hospitals. Sadly, 22 students lost their lives in the incident. Earlier reports from local media had indicated at least 12 fatalities.
Dozens of villagers gathered near the collapsed building, with some weeping and others offering to assist as excavators sifted through the debris. A poignant scene unfolded as a woman, overcome with grief, tried to approach the rubble but was restrained by others.
Nigeria’s National Emergency Management Agency swiftly deployed rescue and health workers, along with security forces, to the site to aid in the search for trapped students.
“To ensure prompt medical attention, the government has instructed hospitals to prioritize treatment without requiring documentation or payment,” stated Plateau state’s commissioner for information, Musa Ashoms, in a release.
The state government attributed the collapse to the school’s “weak structure and location near a riverbank,” urging other schools facing similar risks to close down to prevent further tragedies.
Building collapses have become increasingly common in Nigeria, with over a dozen incidents recorded in the past two years. These disasters are often blamed on inadequate enforcement of building safety regulations and poor maintenance practices.
