The Plateau State Government has expressed profound sorrow over the collapse of a school building in Jos, the state capital, on Friday.
Seventeen individuals have been confirmed dead, and over 120 remain trapped at the Saint Academy building located in the Busa Buji community.
The collapse occurred around 8:30 a.m. while students and teachers were in their classrooms.
State Commissioner for Information, Musa Ashoms, provided an update on the incident, revealing that 120 people were still trapped under the rubble.
“The Plateau State Government has expressed deep sadness over the tragic incident at Saint Academy Jos, where a building collapsed, resulting in casualties.
“Injured students and teachers are still being evacuated to different hospitals within Jos,” the statement read.
Rescue operations are ongoing, with mechanical diggers deployed to search for survivors as desperate parents continue to look for their children.
Officials have reported “several students” killed, with an AFP reporter counting five dead bodies in one hospital morgue and eleven in another, all in school uniforms.
Injured student Wulliya Ibrahim recounted his experience: “I entered the class not more than five minutes when I heard a sound, and the next thing I knew, I found myself here. We were many in the class, writing our exams.”
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) confirmed the collapse of the two-story building, noting “several students” had died but did not provide specific details.
“NEMA and other critical stakeholders are currently conducting search and rescue operations,” the agency stated.
A resident at the scene, Chika Obioha, reported seeing at least eight bodies and numerous injuries.
“Everyone is helping out to see if we can rescue more people,” he said.
An AFP correspondent witnessed 11 bodies at the Bingham University Teaching Hospital morgue and five more at the Our Lady of Apostles Hospital morgue in Jos.
At least 15 rescued and injured students have been admitted to the Our Lady of Apostles Hospital, with officials at the Bingham University Teaching Hospital yet to comment.
The cause of the collapse remains unclear, but residents noted it followed three days of heavy rains in Plateau State.
Building collapses are unfortunately common in Nigeria due to lax enforcement of building standards, negligence, and the use of substandard materials.
Corruption, allowing for the bypassing of official oversight, is often cited as a contributing factor to such disasters.
In commiserating, the Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has sent his condolences to the people and Government of Plateau State on the unfortunate collapse of a school building in the state capital Jos and the resulting deaths of many schoolchildren and teachers.
This was contained in a statement issued by Chief Press Secretary to the Governor Rafiu Ajakaye and made available to newsmen in Ilorin, Kwara State.
“The Governor says the incident is sad and devastating, specifically commiserating with Governor Caleb Mutfwang and the families of the victims.
Governor AbdulRazaq commended the state government and all the emergency responders for the swift response to the incident.
He asks God to repose the souls of the victims, and wishes safe and quick recovery for those who were injured in the school building collapse,” the statement said.
