Two people have been confirmed dead and three others rescued after a three-storey private hostel collapsed in Amaokpala, near the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State.
The building, identified as Elite Five Star Lodge, caved in late Sunday night, prompting an emergency response by security agencies, firefighters and other rescue personnel. Rescue operations continued into Monday as authorities searched the rubble for any remaining occupants.
The Anambra State Police Command said a joint rescue team comprising personnel of the police, the Anambra State Fire Service, the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), the Nigerian Red Cross and local volunteers was immediately deployed to the scene following a distress call.
Police spokesperson, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed that two bodies had been recovered from the debris, while three injured victims were rescued alive and taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. He added that efforts were ongoing to ensure no one remained trapped beneath the collapsed structure.
Following the incident, the Anambra State Government sealed off the site and pledged to investigate the cause of the collapse, while also strengthening enforcement of building safety regulations to prevent similar occurrences.
Meanwhile, the management of the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, dismissed reports that students of the institution were among those killed. In a statement issued by the institution’s Public Relations Officer, Dr. Oguegbu Celestine Udoka, the school clarified that the collapsed structure was a privately owned lodge located outside the campus and accommodated both students and non-students.
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The institution stated that, based on available information, no student of the polytechnic had been confirmed dead in the incident, urging the public to disregard contrary reports.
Eyewitnesses said some occupants escaped after cracks reportedly appeared in parts of the building shortly before it gave way, while others were trapped under the rubble.
Authorities said investigations have commenced to determine the cause of the collapse, as emergency responders continue to monitor the site.
The tragedy has renewed concerns over the structural integrity of buildings in Nigeria and the need for stricter compliance with construction standards and regular inspections of residential facilities, particularly those accommodating students.
