… 154 students and Teachers affected.
The death toll of the building housing Saint Academy which collapsed earlier on Friday has increased to 22.
Many students are still trapped in the collapse school located in Busa Buji community of Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State.
According to witnesses, the building housing Saint Academy caved in around 11 am, on Friday, leaving students who were writing exams trapped.
After the news of the collapse broke, many parents trooped to the school wailing uncontrollably.
Rescue operations are still ongoing while security personnel, including soldiers and police, have arrived at the scene.
“A truck which was headed for the scene got stuck in the mud”. A witness said.
Reports reaching SUNRISETIMES says bodies of the deceased have been deposited at three mortuaries in Jos, while 134 persons are currently receiving treatment at various hospitals.
However, parents who are yet to see their wards have rushed to the various hospitals trying to identify the location and condition of their children.
Meanwhile the Plateau State Commissioner of Information, Hon. Musa Ashoms while briefing Journalists at the scene of school building collapse in Jos confirmed the death of 22 students and expressed concern over the avoidable tragedy, citing the school’s weak structure and unsafe location near a riverbank.
He praised the efforts of NEMA, SEMA, and security agencies in rescuing trapped children and transporting them to hospitals.
However the Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI) has commenced an investigation into the recent school building collapse in Jos, Plateau State.
House of Reps Member Representing Jos North, Bassa Federal Constituency Hon. Daniel Asama has expressed his condolences to the families affected by the tragic school building collapse in Jos, Plateau State. Describing the incident as a “black Friday,” Asama acknowledged the pain and uncertainty surrounding the tragedy.
Meanwhile the Senator representing Plateau South Senatorial District Simon Bako Lalong has expressed sadness and regret the tragic collapse of a school building in Busa Buji Jos which resulted in casualties.
Lalong said the unfortunate incident evokes sorrow and grief as it reportedly led to fatalities including loss of previous lives of students and teachers who were at the school facility.
While commiserating with the families of the affected, Senator Lalong commended the response agencies for doing their best to search and rescue survivors, many of whom were evacuated to medical facilities for further attention.
He also commended public spirited individuals who also supported the rescue efforts as well as donated blood at the medical facilities where the evacuated survivors were taken to.
The Senator hopes that after the completion of search and rescue effort, a thorough audit will be carried out to ascertain the cause of the building collapse so as to forestall future occurrences.
He prays God to comfort the families of all those affected and urges relevant government agencies to give them necessary support at this time of grief.
