A devastating event occurred on Friday, July 12, 2024, in the Jos North district of Plateau State, Nigeria as the Saint Academy school building collapsed. The disaster led to the tragic loss of at least 22 students. The collapse happened during an exam session, trapping 154 students under the debris of the two-story structure.
Immediately after the collapse, rescue teams, including mechanical diggers and volunteers, started working tirelessly to reach the students trapped under the rubble. Plateau police spokesperson Alfred Alabo confirmed the rescue of 132 students who received medical treatment in various hospitals, but regrettably, 22 did not survive.
One of the injured students, Wulliya Ibrahim, relayed the horrifying event to the media, saying, “I entered the class not more than five minutes when I heard a sound, and the next thing, I found myself here.” He further added, “We are many in the class; we are writing our exams.”
The collapse was attributed by the Plateau state government to the school’s weak structure and its proximity to a riverbank. Heavy rainfall in the days before the incident likely worsened the building’s structural deficiencies. The government has urged schools with similar structural concerns to close immediately to avert additional disasters.
Chika Obioha, a local resident present at the scene, provided a first-hand account of the chaotic rescue operations. “Everyone is helping to see if we can rescue more people,” he stated. Obioha reported witnessing several bodies and many injured students being extricated from the wreckage.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other key stakeholders are spearheading the search and rescue operations. NEMA released a statement emphasizing the dire situation, noting their collaboration with security forces and healthcare workers to ensure that all trapped victims are located and receive treatment swiftly.
In a move to expedite medical care, the government has directed hospitals to prioritize treatment without demanding documentation or payment. This instruction guarantees immediate medical attention for all injured students.
“Devastated by the loss of young lives at Saint Academy,” UNICEF Nigeria representative Cristian Munduate expressed on social media. The official added, “Children full of dreams were writing exams when the school building collapsed. Deepest condolences to families affected.”
This incident has brought to light the recurring problem of building collapses in Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa. The causes of these disasters are often traced back to weak enforcement of building standards, negligence, use of substandard materials, and corruption. In recent years, Nigeria has witnessed several major building collapses leading to significant loss of life.
In 2021, a high-rise building under construction in the Ikoyi district of Lagos collapsed, taking the lives of at least 45 people. The subsequent year saw another disaster when a three-story building in the Ebute-Metta area of Lagos collapsed, causing 10 fatalities. Since 2005, a minimum of 152 buildings have collapsed in Lagos alone, according to a South African university researcher studying construction disasters.
Following the Saint Academy collapse, the Plateau state government has pledged to conduct a comprehensive investigation and hold those responsible accountable. In the meantime, the community is left grappling with the loss of young lives and the psychological impact of the disaster.
