22 Dead, 132 Injured in Plateau School Building Collapse

The Plateau State Government has confirmed 22 fatalities and 132 injuries resulting from the collapse of a school building in Jos.

Mr. Musa Ashoms, the Commissioner for Information, reported that six of the injured are in critical condition. Ashoms added that the injured are being treated in various tertiary health facilities across the state, while the bodies of the deceased have been placed in mortuaries.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the two-storey building of Saints Academy, a secondary and primary school in the Busa-Buji community of Jos North Local Area, collapsed, trapping students, teachers, and others.

The incident occurred around 8:30 a.m. on Friday, as students were taking their third term examinations.

Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau described the event as a tragic and monumental loss for the state.

In a statement issued by Mr. Gyang Bere, his Director of Press and Public Affairs, the governor expressed sympathy for the families of the victims and described the incident as heart-wrenching and unfortunate.

“This is tragic, unfortunate, heart-wrenching, and a gloomy situation,” Mutfwang said. “We appreciate the timely intervention of the search and rescue team and the public members who rushed to the school premises to assist in evacuating some of the surviving students and staff. I have directed the relevant government agencies, including the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and Plateau State Emergency Management Agency, to provide necessary support to survivors. Words cannot fully comfort the grieving families over their immense loss, so we pray that God will continue to console and uphold them during this difficult period.”

Highlighting the significance and broader purpose of Executive Order 003, recently signed into law, Mutfwang clarified that its intent was to safeguard citizens from such disasters.

“The rationale for Executive Order 003 is to prevent Jos from deteriorating into a slum and to ensure compliance with building regulations in line with the Greater Jos Master Plan,” the governor said.