- By Kamil Opeyemi
No fewer than 17 people have been killed while about 137 others were trapped under the rubble Affer a building collapse in Plateau state on Friday.
In a statement by the state’s Commissioner for Information Musa Ashoms, said the tragedy was avoidable.
The statement read, “The Plateau State Government has expressed deep sadness over the tragic incident at Saint Academy Jos, where a building collapsed resulting in casualties and injured students and teachers still being evacuated to different hospitals within Jos
The government describes the incident as an avoidable tragedy, citing the school’s weak structure and unsafe location near a riverbank.
“However, we commend the efforts of NEMA, SEMA, Red Cross and security agencies in rescuing trapped children and transporting them to hospitals.”
Ashoms disclosed that the government has instructed hospitals to prioritise treatment without documentation or payment.
He added, “The Commissioner of Health has also ordered all major hospitals in Jos to attend to the victims.
“Approximately 120 people were trapped, with many evacuated.
“The government emphasises the importance of adhering to safety standards, making Executive Order 003 sacrosanct. Schools with similar issues are urged to close down, enabling the Jos Metropolitan Development Board to prevent future incidents.”
Ashoms stated that the incident highlights the importance of prioritising safety standards to prevent tragedies.
At the scene of the incident a w woman believed to be mother of four of the school children who had died , fainted and died eventually on Friday.