Tragic School Building Collapse in Plateau State Leaves 17 Dead and Over 120 Trapped

In a tragic incident that occurred on Friday, a school building in Jos, the capital of Plateau State, collapsed, resulting in the death of 17 individuals and leaving more than 120 people trapped. The incident took place at the Saint Academy building in the Busa Buji community, during school hours when students and teachers were present.

The Plateau State Government expressed deep sadness over the incident and described it as an avoidable tragedy. The state Commissioner for Information, Musa Ashoms, stated that the weak structure of the school building and its unsafe location near a riverbank were contributing factors to the collapse.

Efforts to rescue those trapped under the rubble were immediately initiated by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), the Red Cross, and security agencies. These rescue teams worked tirelessly to evacuate the injured students and teachers to various hospitals in Jos.

In light of the incident, the government has instructed hospitals to prioritize the treatment of the victims without requiring documentation or payment. The Commissioner of Health has also ordered major hospitals in Jos to attend to the victims. The government emphasized the importance of adhering to safety standards and urged schools with similar issues to close down. This action will enable the Jos Metropolitan Development Board to prevent future incidents.

Sunday Àbdu, the Executive Secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency, confirmed that 17 individuals lost their lives in the collapse. He expressed deep sadness over the incident and provided an update on the casualty figures. At Bingham University Teaching Hospital, 13 bodies were recovered, and 43 individuals were receiving medical attention. OLA Specialist Hospital was attending to over 40 injured individuals, while Plateau Specialists Hospital had four deceased bodies and 40 people receiving treatment. Some casualties were also evacuated to the Jos University Teaching Hospital, but exact figures were not available at the time of reporting.

This tragic incident serves as a reminder of the importance of prioritizing safety standards to prevent such devastating events. The government and relevant authorities are committed to investigating the causes of the collapse and taking necessary actions to ensure the safety of all educational institutions in the state.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of those affected by this heartbreaking incident. May the injured recover swiftly, and may the souls of the departed rest in peace.