Mr. Daramola, the principal of Saint Academy in Jos, Plateau State, has confirmed that over 200 students remain trapped under the rubble of their classrooms.
News About Nigeria reported that the incident occurred on Friday while students were writing their third-term examinations.
The principal of the school, Mr. Daramola, described the collapse as “heartbreaking” and emotionally overwhelming.
“I wasn’t just myself. As a matter of fact, I was crying. It is so pathetic, so heartbreaking,” he lamented while speaking to the press at the scene.
Providing an estimate, Mr. Daramola indicated that at least 200 students were caught in the collapse.
“All things being equal, there should not be less than 200 students. JSS1 has 42 students, JSS2 has 36, JSS3 has 42, SS1A has 31, SS1B has 44, and SS1C has 9,” he said.
He also noted that a significant number of pupils had already been rescued.
Plateau Commissioner for Information and Communication, Musa Ashoms, confirmed the situation.
He stated that approximately 200 students were trapped in the section of the school building that collapsed.
“The collapsed building has resulted in casualties, and injured students are still being evacuated to hospitals. We cannot, however, ascertain the exact number of casualties until the evacuation is completed,” Ashoms said.
The commissioner, accompanied by other officials, including the Commissioner for Secondary Education, visited the site.
He revealed that the school had a total population of about 400 students, with the collapsed section housing around 200 of them at the time of the incident.
Ashoms emphasised the ongoing rescue efforts, commending the emergency workers for their dedication.
He conveyed Governor Caleb Mutfwang’s directive to medical personnel to prioritise saving lives without demanding any payments due to the emergency nature of the situation.
Ashoms pointed out that the collapsed building, situated in a waterlogged area, did not meet construction standards.
“This incident underscores the imperative of Order 003 of the state government, which aims to enforce the implementation of the Greater Jos Master Plan to prevent such unfortunate incidents,” he stated.
The commissioner assured that the Jos Metropolitan Development Board would ensure that all faulty buildings are demolished and that ongoing constructions conform to the required standards to prevent future tragedies.
