22 die, 132 injured in Plateau school building collapse

The Plateau State Government has confirmed 22 deaths and 132 injured persons from the collapsed school building in Jos, the state capital.

The Plateau State Commissioner for Information, Musa Ashoms, said six of the injured persons were in critical condition.

Ashoms disclosed that those injured were receiving treatment in various tertiary health facilities in the state, while the bodies of the deceased had been deposited in mortuaries.

A two-storey building of Saints Academy, a secondary and primary school located at Busa-Buji community of Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State collapsed, trapping students, teachers, and others.

The incident occurred at about 8:30 a.m. on Friday, July 12, 2024, when the students were writing their third-term examination.

Meanwhile, Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang has described the incident as a tragic and monumental loss to the state.

Mutfwang stated this in a statement issued by the Director of Press and Public Affairs, Gyang Bere, on Friday.

The governor, who sympathised with the families of the affected victims, further described the incident as heart-wrenching and unfortunate.

Students trapped as school building collapses in Plateau

He noted: “This is a tragic, unfortunate, heart-wrenching and gloomy situation.

“We appreciate the timely intervention of the search and rescue team, as well as members of the public, 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 stated 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 added.