Tragedy Strikes as School Building Collapse Claims 22 Lives in Plateau State, Nigeria

Tragedy struck in Plateau State, Nigeria, as a school building collapse claimed the lives of 22 individuals at the Saint Academy in Jos. The incident occurred in the Busa Buji community in Jos North Local Government Area, sending shockwaves through the region.

Following the collapse, emergency response teams including the National Emergency Management Agency, State Emergency Management Agency, and the Red Cross swiftly mobilized to the scene to conduct search and rescue operations. The Plateau State Specialist Hospital, Our Lady of Apostles Hospital, Bingham University Teaching Hospital, and Jos University Teaching Hospital played critical roles in providing medical care to the victims.

The Plateau State Government, led by Governor Caleb Mutfwang, expressed deep condolences and activated emergency response protocols to manage the aftermath of the tragic incident. The government emphasized the need for adherence to safety standards in construction and announced investigations into the cause of the building collapse.

In a statement, government official Musa Ashoms highlighted the avoidable nature of the tragedy, pointing to the weak structure and unsafe location of the school near a riverbank. The government directed hospitals in Jos to prioritize treatment for the injured, and urged schools with structural concerns to close down as a precautionary measure.

Prominent figures such as Bola Tinubu and Cristian Munduate joined in expressing sorrow over the loss of lives in the collapse. Sunday Abdu, the Executive Secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency, provided updates on the rescue efforts and confirmed the casualties and injured individuals.