The Plateau State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Musa Ashoms, said that about 200 students were trapped under the rubble of the Saints Academy Secondary School building collapse.
Students of the school located in Busa-Buji community in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State were writing their third term examination when the incident occurred.
Ashoms, who visited the scene in the company of other commissioners, including that of secondary education, said that the school had a total population of about 400.
The building housing the Saints Academy, Secondary School collapsed at about 11:00 am on Friday, July 12, 2024.
Efforts by the Plateau State Government
Continuing, the commissioner said that part of the school that collapsed was accommodating about 200 students.
His words, “The collapsed building has resulted in casualties, and injured students are still being evacuated to hospitals. We cannot however, ascertain the exact number of casualties until the evacuation is completed.
“The emergency workers are doing a lot in the rescue efforts, the Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, has urged the medical personnel in the hospitals to ensure that they save the lives of survivors.
“They should not ask for money or anything because this is an emergency situation,” he said.
Ashoms added that the mishap underscores the imperative of order 003 of the state government, which was meant to enforce the implementation of the Greater Jos Master Plan, to prevent such unfortunate incidences.
According to the minister, the collapsed school building was built on a waterlogged area and did not meet construction standards.
Ashoms said that the Jos Metropolitan Development Board would ensure that faulty buildings were brought down, while ongoing constructions would henceforth conform to standards.
