On Friday, July 12, 2024, tragedy struck the Jos North district of Plateau State, Nigeria when the Saint Academy school building collapsed, resulting in the deaths of at least 22 students. The students were in the process of taking exams when the two-story building caved in, trapping 154 pupils under the rubble.
Rescue efforts began immediately, with mechanical diggers and volunteers working tirelessly to reach the trapped students. Plateau police spokesperson Alfred Alabo confirmed that 132 students were rescued and received treatment in various hospitals. Unfortunately, 22 students could not be saved.
Injured student Wulliya Ibrahim recalled the terrifying moment to the press, saying, “I entered the class not more than five minutes when I heard a sound, and the next thing, I found myself here.” He added, “We are many in the class; we are writing our exams.”
The Plateau state government has attributed the collapse to the school’s weak structure and its location near a riverbank. Heavy rains in the days leading up to the collapse likely exacerbated the building’s structural vulnerabilities. The state government has urged schools with similar structural concerns to shut down immediately to prevent further tragedies.
Chika Obioha, a resident at the scene, described the chaotic rescue efforts. “Everyone is helping to see if we can rescue more people,” he said. Obioha reported seeing several bodies and numerous injured students being pulled from the debris.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other critical stakeholders are leading the search and rescue operations. In a statement, NEMA emphasized the situation’s urgency, noting that they are working alongside security forces and health workers to ensure that all trapped individuals are found and treated promptly.
The government has instructed hospitals to prioritize treatment without requiring documentation or payment to facilitate swift medical care. This directive ensures that all injured students receive the necessary medical attention immediately.
“Devastated by the loss of young lives at Saint Academy,” wrote UNICEF Nigeria representative Cristian Munduate on social media. “Children full of dreams were writing exams when the school building collapsed. Deepest condolences to families affected.”
The tragedy has highlighted the ongoing issue of building collapses in Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country. These incidents are often attributed to lax building standards enforcement, negligence, the use of low-quality materials, and corruption. Several other major building collapses have occurred in Nigeria in recent years, resulting in significant loss of life.
In 2021, a high-rise building under construction in the Ikoyi district of Lagos collapsed, killing at least 45 people. The following year, a three-story building in the Ebute-Metta area of Lagos collapsed, resulting in the deaths of 10 people. Since 2005, at least 152 buildings have collapsed in Lagos alone, according to a South African university researcher investigating construction disasters.
The state government of Plateau has vowed to conduct a thorough investigation into the collapse of Saint Academy and hold those responsible accountable. Meanwhile, the community is left struggling with the loss of young lives and the trauma of the disaster.