Premium Times reports that the death toll in the building collapse has risen to 10, while 24 other pupils are said to be injured and admitted to the Plateau Specialist Hospital in Jos.
The casualty figure rose on Monday, September 14, from an initial seven deaths reported by officials of the National Emergency Management Agency on Sunday night.
However, sources in the community claimed that the death toll was higher and that the figure was likely to rise considering the degree of the injuries sustained by many of the pupils.
This Day reports that the pupils, aged between six and eight, were receiving Islamic lectures in the evening when the school building collapsed.
Alhaji Danlami Muhammad, who lives in the community, said that he could not give details of the casualties because the rescue operation was still going on.
However, he revealed that about 40 children were inside the building when it collapsed, adding that “the number could have been higher but for the rainfall that prevented some of the children from attending their Koranic class”.
Muhammad Abdulsalam, the North Central Zonal coordinator of NEMA, confirmed the accident by saying:
“So far, four children have been confirmed dead while five others sustained injuries and have been taken to the hospital. Our men are still carrying out the rescue operations and by tomorrow (today) I will give you the details.”
According to Mohammed Sani, a teacher at the school, about 38 pupils were in two classrooms when the incident happened. Sani was also in the collapsed building but suffered minor injuries on his left leg.
“The incident is devastating,” Mr. Sani said. “We had a total of about 50 pupils, but due to continuous rains yesterday (Sunday), most pupils were absent, but about 38 were present.
“Some were rescued unhurt. I personally rescued some. In the process, I got an injury on my left leg. But we thank God, we can say it is minor, considering the number of rescue persons alive. I appeal to all parents to take consolation in God, ” he said.
Musa Tijani, who lost his son in the incident, called on government to assist in rebuilding the school to enable pupils to continue their studies. The aggrieved father explained that the school was being run as humanitarian service to the community.
“It’s free, the owner of the school built it to help coach our children in Islamic studies, but now that it has collapsed we do not know the fate of our children. I’m calling on government to help rebuild the school,” he said.
Last week, a similar accident happened in Effurun-Warri, Delta state, when the popular Mekaval Hotel collapsed . Luckily, no deaths were recorded but seven people were injured.
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