The collapse of a classroom building on Wednesday at Government Secondary School, Namnai, Gasol LGA, Taraba State, nearly cost the lives of final year students who were writing their WAEC exams at the time.
The unfortunate incident occurred during a heavy downpour that was accompanied by a violent windstorm, which swept through the town in the early evening.
According to eyewitness accounts, the classroom building collapsed around 6:00 PM, just minutes after the second batch of students had settled in to begin their examination.
Fortunately, the first set of students had already completed their papers and vacated the premises before the structure gave way. However, the sudden collapse trapped dozens of students, teachers, examination supervisors, and members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) who were on duty at the school.
The local community was thrown into chaos as residents rushed to the scene to assist with rescue operations. It reportedly took several hours of concerted effort to pull out the trapped individuals from the debris.
Some of the rescued students, both male and female, were found with varying degrees of injuries. Several suffered fractures to their limbs, including their legs, arms, and hands. The teachers and corps members were also affected, although the extent of their injuries has not been fully disclosed.
Alhaji DanAzumi Lauris, a resident of Namnai, spoke with Daily Trust via telephone and confirmed the details of the incident. He narrated that the storm hit just after the students began their examination and described the scene as devastating.
“It was just a few minutes after the students had started the second paper when a powerful wind, accompanied by heavy rain, began. Before we knew it, the building caved in,” he said.
Following the collapse, all injured persons were immediately rushed to the Primary Healthcare Centre, which is situated a few metres from the school.
Medical personnel at the facility were on hand to administer first aid and begin preliminary treatment. Community members also assisted in transporting victims to the clinic due to the urgency of the situation.
Alhaji DanAzumi also revealed that the school building was not the only structure affected by the storm. “Many houses in the town were also destroyed during the rainfall,” he said, indicating that the incident is part of a larger wave of destruction brought on by the severe weather.
As of now, education and local government authorities have yet to issue an official statement. However, there are growing concerns about the safety of school infrastructure in the area, especially during the rainy season.