22 people are now dead from the school building collapse that occurred in Jos, Plateau State, on Friday morning.
Following a rescue operation at the Saint Academy in the Busa Buji community of the state’s Jos North Local Government Area, Sunday Abdu, the executive secretary of the state Emergency Management Agency, had earlier confirmed the deaths of seventeen people.
However, in a new update on the tragic incident, state Commissioner of Information Musa Ashoms stated in a statement he released on Friday night that the number of deaths had increased to 22 and that 154 people had various degrees of fatalities.
A portion of the statement said, “The Plateau State Government extends its sincere condolences for the tragic building collapse that occurred at Saint Academy, Jos, on July 12, 2024. 154 people were killed and injured as a result of the collapse. Emergency responders are currently at the scene conducting search and rescue operations.
“Current situation as of 6:00 pm, 154 people have been rescued from the debris. Sadly, 22 individuals have been confirmed deceased. Injured students and staff are receiving medical treatment at various hospitals across Jos.
“Breakdown of Hospital Admissions and Fatalities: Hospital, Patients and number Deaths. Plateau State Specialist Hospital, 39 hospitalised and three deaths; Our Lady of Apostles Hospital, 32 hospitalised and five deaths; Bingham University Teaching Hospital, 55 hospitalised and 14 deaths. Jos University Teaching Hospital, six hospitalised and zero deaths.
“Total: 132 hospitalised and 22 deaths, a grand total of 154 victims.”
The commissioner went on, “As soon as the incident was reported, the Plateau State Government initiated emergency response procedures.
“Emergency services include the National Emergency Management Agency, State Emergency Management Agency, Red Cross, security agencies, and healthcare professionals who have been working collaboratively in search, rescue and resuscitation efforts.
“To ensure prompt medical attention, the government has directed all major hospitals in Jos to prioritize treatment of the victims, regardless of documentation or payment.
“The Governor, (Caleb) Mutfwang, has specifically instructed these hospitals to accommodate those affected by the collapse.”
According to the statement, the government equally emphasises the importance of adhering to established safety standards in building construction.
Citing Executive Order 003, the government urges schools and other facility owners with structural concerns to close their facilities immediately.
“The Jos Metropolitan Development Board will conduct inspections to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The commissioner stated that a comprehensive inquiry was in progress to determine what caused the building to collapse.
Earlier, tears flowed freely on Friday as parents and sympathisers gathered at the scene of a school building collapse.
Saturday, was reported that the school building located in Busa Buji community caved in around 8:30am on Friday when the students and teachers were in their classes.
After visiting the scene, the state’s commissioner of information, Musa Ashoms, stated in a statement on Friday that 120 people were still trapped in the rubble following the tragic event.
The statement, which described the incident as avoidable, indicated that the structure housing the school was weak, leading to its collapse.
“The Plateau State Government has expressed deep sadness over the tragic incident at Saint Academy Jos, where a building collapsed resulting in casualties and injured students and teachers still being evacuated to different hospitals within Jos.
“The government describes the incident as an avoidable tragedy, citing the school’s weak structure and unsafe location near a riverbank.
“However, we commend the efforts of NEMA, SEMA, Red Cross and security agencies in rescuing trapped children and transporting them to hospitals.
“To ensure prompt medical attention, the government has instructed hospitals to prioritise treatment without documentation or payment. The Commissioner for Health has also ordered all major hospitals in Jos to attend to the victims.
“Approximately 120 people were trapped, with many evacuated. The government emphasises the importance of adhering to safety standards, making Executive Order 003 sacrosanct. Schools with similar issues are urged to close down, enabling the Jos Metropolitan Development Board to prevent future incidents.
“The government commiserates with affected families and stresses the need for clearance from the JMDB for any structure to be erected the state. This incident highlights the importance of prioritising safety standards to prevent tragedies and ensure the well-being of citizens, especially children.”
The Executive Secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency, Sunday Abdu, after their rescue operations, confirmed that 17 persons had died as a result of the incident.
The SEMA boss, who described the incident as sad, said, “We have finished the rescue mission at least for today. We are just closing from the site. The fact remains that the casualty figures keep changing. Thirteen people were pronounced dead at the Bingham University Teaching Hospital in Jos, leaving 43 injured and awaiting medical attention.
“In OLA Specialist Hospital, we have over 40 receiving attention. In Plateau Specialists Hospital, we have four dead bodies, with 40 people receiving treatment.
“We also have some casualties who were evacuated to the Jos University Teaching hospital but I don’t have the figure at the moment.
Tinubu mourns
In the meantime, President Bola Tinubu was deeply saddened to learn on Friday night of the tragic collapse of a school building in Jos, Plateau State, which left numerous people dead and numerous others injured.
According to a statement released on Friday and signed by his Special Advisor on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, “Tinubu describes the unfortunate incident as a huge loss to the nation, as well as a devastating development – too excruciating to imagine.”
