The Plateau State Government has expressed deep sadness over the tragic incident where a school building in Jos collapsed, resulting in casualties and leaving over 120 persons trapped.
The incident occurred on Friday morning at around 8:30 am at the Saint Academy located in the Busa Buji community, when students and teachers were in their classrooms writing examination.
According to the Plateau State Commissioner for Information, Musa Ashoms, the government has described the incident as an “avoidable tragedy” citing the school’s weak structure and unsafe location near a riverbank.
So far, 17 persons have been confirmed dead, with many more injured students and teachers being evacuated to different hospitals within Jos. The Plateau State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) reported that 13 bodies were recovered at the Bingham University Teaching Hospital, 4 at the Plateau Specialists Hospital, and over 40 victims are receiving treatment at the OLA Specialist Hospital.
The government has commended the efforts of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), SEMA, Red Cross, and security agencies in the rescue operations. Ashoms stated that the government has instructed hospitals to prioritize treatment of the victims without requiring documentation or payment.
“The Commissioner of Health has also ordered all major hospitals in Jos to attend to the victims,” Ashoms said, adding that approximately 120 people were trapped, with many evacuated.
The government has emphasized the importance of adhering to safety standards, making Executive Order 003 sacrosanct. Ashoms urged schools with similar issues to close down, enabling the Jos Metropolitan Development Board to prevent future incidents.
