In a tragic turn of events, at least 22 people, including students, have lost their lives due to the collapse of a two-storey school building in central Nigeria. The incident left rescuers scrambling to save over 100 individuals who were trapped underneath the rubble.
The Saint Academy building in Plateau state’s Busa Buji community crumbled down on Friday, just as students – many of them as young as 15 – were settling in for their classes. Thankfully, out of the 154 initially trapped students, 132 have been rescued and are currently receiving medical treatment in various hospitals. Sadly, police confirm that 22 students have passed away in this heartbreaking disaster.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has reported that 30 individuals are still receiving medical care, and the rescue operation has officially concluded with the site now cleared. The community came together to support the rescue efforts, with villagers offering their assistance and comforting each other amidst the chaos.
Unfortunately, building collapses have become a disturbing trend in Nigeria, with over a dozen incidents reported in the past two years. The state government of Plateau has attributed this particular tragedy to the school’s weak structure and its proximity to a riverbank, urging other at-risk establishments to shut down for safety.
While authorities work to investigate the root causes of this disaster, our hearts go out to the families and friends of those who lost their lives in this devastating event. The community is in mourning, but also determined to ensure that such tragedies are prevented in the future through better enforcement of safety standards and stricter regulations in construction practices.
