22 Dead in School Collapse in Nigeria

22 people lost their lives when a two-story school building collapsed in Plateau State, central Nigeria.

The incident at the St. Academy School in Bosa Buji, Jos North, has left the community in shock and mourning.

According to a report by Sky News on Saturday, the collapse trapped 154 individuals under the rubble. Emergency responders managed to rescue the survivors, who now receive treatment for various injuries in different hospitals.

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) of Nigeria confirmed in a Facebook post that 30 people remain hospitalized, and rescue operations have concluded with the site now cleared.

The building, part of St. Academy School, collapsed during school hours at about 07:30 GMT. The disaster prompted a gathering of distraught villagers near the school, some in tears while others offered help.

Heavy machinery was used to sift through the debris, and emotional scenes unfolded as a woman tried to reach the rubble before being restrained by others.

NEMA reported that rescue workers, health officials, and security forces were promptly deployed to the scene to initiate a search for trapped students.

Musa Ashoms, the Plateau State Commissioner for Information, stated that the government has directed hospitals to prioritize medical care for the injured without requiring documentation or payment.

The government attributed the tragedy to poor construction practices and the school's proximity to a riverbank. Authorities have urged schools facing similar structural issues to close immediately to prevent further disasters.

Building collapses are unfortunately common in Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation. The frequent disregard for building regulations and the use of substandard construction materials are often cited as contributing factors to such incidents.