16 Students Writing Exams Killed After School Collapsed in Nigeria: Watch

A tragic incident has struck central Nigeria, claiming the lives of at least 16 students who were writing exams when their school collapsed. 

The two-story building housing Saint Academy in Jos, Plateau State, collapsed suddenly, trapping students under the rubble.

According to reports from the scene, the collapse occurred while students were actively taking exams. 

Wulliya Ibrahim, one of the injured students, recounted the harrowing experience: "I entered the class not more than five minutes, when I heard a sound, and the next thing is I found myself here." 

The collapse has left many students injured and several families devastated.

NIGERIA

BREAKING - Aerials of the site of a deadly school collapse in central Nigeria |

June 12, 2024
At least 16 students have been killed and other trapped in the rubble of the Saint Academy school in Jos North district of Plateau State.

Mechanical diggers are on site to… pic.twitter.com/AKNKzVSULP

— Abhay (@AstuteGaba) July 13, 2024

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other stakeholders immediately launched search and rescue operations to retrieve survivors and casualties from the debris. 

Chika Obioha, a resident at the scene, described a frantic effort by locals to assist in rescue efforts, highlighting the community's solidarity in the face of tragedy.

As the rescue operations unfolded, the gravity of the situation became apparent. 

At the Bingham University Teaching Hospital and Our Lady of Apostles Hospital in Jos, reports indicated a total of 16 bodies had been recovered, with many more injured students receiving medical attention. 

The hospitals admitted at least 15 rescued students, underscoring the scale of the disaster.

The cause of the collapse has not been definitively determined, although residents mentioned heavy rains over the past few days as a possible contributing factor. 

Building collapses are unfortunately not uncommon in Nigeria, often attributed to lax enforcement of building standards, use of substandard materials, and corruption that circumvents official oversight.

In recent years, Nigeria has witnessed several tragic incidents involving building collapses, claiming numerous lives due to these systemic issues. 

In 2021, a high-rise under construction collapsed in Lagos, killing 45 people, while in 2022, ten lives were lost in another building collapse in the Ebute-Metta area of the city.

The Saint Academy school collapse serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for stricter adherence to building regulations and enhanced safety measures in construction across Nigeria. 

As families mourn the loss of their loved ones and the community grapples with this devastating event, questions about accountability and prevention loom large.

Efforts to recover from this tragedy will continue, with authorities focusing on both immediate rescue operations and long-term measures to prevent such incidents in the future. 

The entire nation mourns with the families affected by this heartbreaking loss of young lives in the pursuit of education.