JUST IN: 200 Confirmed Trapped As Building Collapses On Students

The Plateau Commissioner for Information and Communication, Musa Ashoms, has confirmed that approximately 200 students were trapped in the collapsed building of Saints Academy, a secondary school in Jos, on Friday while they were writing their third term examinations.

Ashoms, along with other commissioners, including the Commissioner for Secondary Education, visited the scene and reported that the school had a total enrollment of about 400 students. The section of the building that collapsed was housing around 200 students at the time of the incident.

“The collapsed building has resulted in casualties, and injured students are still being evacuated to hospitals,” Ashoms stated. “We cannot ascertain the exact number of casualties until the evacuation is completed. The emergency workers are making significant efforts in the rescue operations.”

Governor Caleb Mutfwang has urged medical personnel in hospitals to prioritize saving the lives of survivors without demanding money, emphasizing the emergency nature of the situation.

Ashoms highlighted the necessity of state government Order 003, which aims to enforce the Greater Jos Master Plan to prevent such tragic events. He noted that the collapsed building, constructed in a waterlogged area, did not meet proper construction standards.

The Jos Metropolitan Development Board will ensure that faulty buildings are demolished and that future constructions adhere to required standards.