By D. W. G. Kalani Tharanga, JadeTimes News
The Devastating Incident
In a heart wrenching tragedy, 22 children have lost their lives, and at least 132 have been injured after a school building collapsed in Nigeria’s central Plateau state. The incident occurred at Saint Academy in Jos, the state capital, while students were attending classes on a Friday morning. The collapse left many children trapped under the debris, prompting a desperate rescue effort by volunteers using excavators, hammers, and even their bare hands to break through the rubble of concrete and twisted iron rods.
Local police confirmed the death toll and stated that many more children are receiving treatment in nearby hospitals. Abel Fuandai, a local resident, described the scale of the tragedy as "frightening," revealing that his friend's son was among the victims. The school reportedly accommodates over 1,000 pupils, amplifying the gravity of the disaster.
Community Response and Government Action
The state government has launched an investigation into the collapse, pointing to the school’s "weak structure and unsafe location near a riverbank" as potential causes. Officials have advised other schools with structural concerns to close immediately to prevent further tragedies. Hospitals in Jos have been instructed to prioritize treating the injured, irrespective of documentation or payment, to ensure swift medical attention for all victims.
Residents attribute the building's collapse to three days of heavy rains in the region. Injured student Wulliya Ibrahim, speaking from a hospital bed, recounted the terrifying moment, "I entered the class not more than five minutes when I heard a sound, and the next thing is I found myself here. We are many in the class; we are writing our exams."
Eyewitness Chika Obioha reported seeing numerous dead bodies and noted that dozens of people had been rescued by the community’s collective efforts. "Everyone is helping out to see if we can rescue more people," he said, reflecting the community's determination to save as many lives as possible.
Unicef Nigeria representative Cristian Munduate expressed deep condolences on social media, lamenting the loss of young lives, "Children full of dreams were writing exams when the school building collapsed. Deepest condolences to families affected."
This tragic event underscores a troubling pattern in Nigeria, where several significant building collapses have occurred in recent years. Experts attribute these incidents to a combination of poor workmanship, substandard materials, and corruption. One of the most notable collapses occurred in 2021, when a high rise building under construction in a wealthy Lagos neighborhood collapsed, killing at least 45 people. This latest disaster in Plateau state calls for urgent reforms in building regulations and enforcement to prevent further loss of innocent lives.
