A devastating incident has occurred in Jos, Plateau State, as a 2-storey school building collapsed, trapping over 200 students inside.
Information made available to Diaspora Digital Media has it that The Saints Academy, a secondary school in the city, was the scene of the disaster, which happened while students were writing their third-term examination.
According to the Plateau Commissioner for Information and Communication, Mr. Musa Ashoms, the school had a total population of about 400 students, and the collapsed building was accommodating around 200 students at the time of the incident. The commissioner confirmed that there have been casualties, and injured students are still being evacuated to hospitals.
The rescue efforts are ongoing, with emergency workers battling to save as many lives as possible. The state government has urged medical personnel to prioritize saving lives and not to demand payment from the victims’ families. Governor Caleb Mutfwang has also directed that the medical expenses of the survivors be taken care of by the government.
The commissioner attributed the collapse to the faulty construction of the building, which was built on a waterlogged area. He stated that the incident highlights the need for the implementation of the Greater Jos Master Plan, which aims to prevent such incidents by ensuring that buildings are constructed to standard.
The Jos Metropolitan Development Board (JMDB) has been tasked with ensuring that faulty buildings are brought down, and ongoing constructions conform to standards. The government has also vowed to take measures to prevent such tragedies in the future.
The collapse of the school building has sent shockwaves through the community, with parents and guardians rushing to the scene to search for their children.
