President Bola Tinubu has expressed deep sorrow over the tragic collapse of a school building in Plateau State, which resulted in the deaths of over 22 students. In a statement, Tinubu conveyed his profound grief upon receiving the news of the collapse in Jos, emphasizing that the incident represents a significant loss to the nation and a devastating blow to the community.
The President extended his condolences to the bereaved families, the victims, and the people and Government of Plateau State. He praised the efforts of the emergency responders, including the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), security agencies, and all citizens involved in the search, rescue, and resuscitation operations. Tinubu assured the people of Plateau State of his unwavering support during this challenging time.
The incident occurred on Friday when a two-storey building of Saint Academy in the Busa Buji community collapsed around 8:30 am, trapping approximately 120 students. The Executive Secretary of SEMA, Sunday Abdu, confirmed that 17 students were initially reported dead, with scores of others hospitalized.
Abdu detailed the ongoing rescue efforts, noting that casualty figures continued to change. He reported that Bingham University Teaching Hospital in Jos had 13 bodies and 43 people receiving medical attention. At OLA Specialist Hospital, over 40 individuals were being treated, while Plateau Specialist Hospital had four bodies and 40 people receiving medical care. Some casualties were also evacuated to Jos University Teaching Hospital, though exact figures were not available at the time.