A catastrophic incident occurred this morning at Saints Academy in Jos, where a school building collapsed while students were engaged in their third-term examinations, trapping about 200 of them beneath the debris.
The Plateau State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Mr. Musa Ashoms, confirmed the distressing event to newsmen during a visit to the site.
The commissioner, accompanied by other state officials, including the Commissioner for Secondary Education, reported that the school hosts approximately 400 students, with half of them present in the section that succumbed to structural failure.
Rescue operations are underway, and the extent of casualties remains unclear as efforts to evacuate the injured to local hospitals continue.
Governor Caleb Mutfwang has directed hospital staff to prioritize the care of the survivors without concern for immediate payment, emphasizing the urgency of the situation.
Ashoms highlighted the ongoing challenges with building regulations in the area, noting that the collapsed structure was situated on a waterlogged plot and did not adhere to prescribed construction standards.
This incident has intensified calls for stringent enforcement of the Greater Jos Master Plan, particularly Order 003, which mandates adherence to building codes to avert similar tragedies.
The Jos Metropolitan Development Board (JMDB) has been tasked with inspecting potentially unsafe structures and ensuring that new constructions meet safety standards to prevent future catastrophes.
