On Friday in Jos, Nigeria, a three-story private high school building collapsed. The collapse resulted in the death of at least 22 individuals, primarily students, with 132 others hospitalized. The incident began with a crack in the wall followed by the sudden giving way of the floor beneath the students’ feet.
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The school building of Saint Academy in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria collapsed during morning classes.
Students were in class, many writing exams when the two-story building caved in. The collapse resulted in 22 children’s deaths and injuries to at least 132 others.
Volunteers and local residents used excavators, hammers and their bare hands to rescue those trapped.
Over 40 people were initially rescued from the rubble by local officials and volunteers. Rescue operations involved breaking through concrete and twisted iron rods to reach the trapped students.
A total of 22 students were confirmed dead. Plateau police spokesperson Alfred Alabo reported that 132 students were rescued and treated for injuries in various hospitals.
The initial reports suggested at least 12 deaths but the number was later updated.
The state government has started an investigation into the collapse. Officials cited the weak structure of the school and its unsafe location near a riverbank as primary factors.
The government advised other schools with similar structural concerns to close immediately to prevent such incidents.
Hospitals in Jos were instructed to prioritize treating the injured regardless of documentation or payment.
Injured student Wulliya Ibrahim recounted that he had just entered the classroom and begun his exam when he heard a sound and found himself buried in the rubble.
Local resident Abel Fuandai shared the personal loss of his friend’s son. Chika Obioha, another resident witnessed dead bodies and rescue efforts stating that everyone was pitching in to rescue as many people as possible.
Many parents and residents weeping and searching for their children. One woman was seen wailing and being restrained as she attempted to approach the rubble.
UNICEF Nigeria’s representative Cristian Munduate, who expressed condolences and highlighted the dreams lost in the incident.
Building collapses are not uncommon in Nigeria. Previous incidents include the 2021 collapse of a high-rise in Lagos which killed at least 45 people.
In 2022, another building collapse in the Ebute-Metta area of Lagos resulted in ten deaths. These incidents are often attributed to poor workmanship, substandard materials, corruption and lax enforcement of building regulations.
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Plateau State’s commissioner for information, Musa Ashoms reiterated the importance of medical attention and ordered hospitals to treat the injured without delay.
The government addressed the need for schools with structural issues to close down to prevent similar occurrences.
Investigations aim to identify the specific reasons behind the collapse and enforce stricter building standards in the future.
Teiyei John, a 16-year-old student recounted the moments leading up to the collapse. He was chatting with classmates when the wall cracked and within seconds, the building began to crumble.
He survived with minor injuries. Hosea Donald, an eyewitness described the chaos and the immediate efforts of bystanders to rescue trapped students. He mentioned the challenges by poorly maintained roads which delayed ambulance access.
Musa Ashoms, Plateau State’s communications official confirmed that the death toll stood at 22 with the number of injured still rising.
Emergency services continued to search for victims throughout the day. Rescue workers alongside bystanders sifted through the debris, trying to reach those still trapped.
Farouk Salim, a regulatory agency director said that Nigeria had the highest number of building collapses in Africa.
Over the past four decades more than 220 buildings have collapsed in Nigeria though some reports suggest the number could be over 600.
This year alone 22 buildings had already collapsed by early July. Previous incidents include the 2021 collapse in Lagos that killed 45 people and a 2022 collapse in Ebute-Metta that resulted in 10 fatalities.
The Nigerian National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) deployed rescue workers, health personnel and security forces to the site immediately. Hospitals were instructed to prioritize treatment for the injured without delay or documentation.
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