The Plateau State Government has reported that 22 people have died and 132 have been injured following the collapse of a school building in Busa Buji, Jos North Local Government Area.
The announcement was made by Plateau State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Musa Ashoms, in a statement released on Friday evening. "As of 6:00 pm, 154 people have been rescued from the debris. Sadly, 22 individuals have been confirmed deceased," the statement read. "Injured students and staff are receiving medical treatment at various hospitals across Jos."
Ashoms, who visited the scene of the collapsed two-storey structure, noted that while the school had a population of 400 students, the affected section housed about 200 individuals. Emergency workers promptly transported the survivors to hospitals.
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“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 commissioner stated. "Governor Barrister Mutfwang has specifically instructed these hospitals to accommodate all those affected by the collapse."
Ashoms expressed concern that the collapsed structure did not meet building standards and urged other schools with similar structures to close down. "You can see that it is by the river bank and, from your eye evaluation, you know that it is not a very strong structure," he said. "We are calling on other schools that didn’t follow plans that have similar issues to close down in the interest of our state and our people. We have established a committee to conduct inspections," the commissioner added.
