Death toll in Nigerian school building collapse rises to 22

By Timothy Olanrewaju

LAGOS, Nigeria (AA) – The death toll from the collapse of a Nigerian school building in the north-central Plateau State has risen to 22, an official and hospital rescue workers said on Saturday.

The two-story building of classrooms and staff offices in the city of Jos collapsed on Friday while students were taking exams, killing at least 12 students and teachers.

But two rescue workers from the State Emergency Agency told Anadolu Agency on Saturday that a total of 22 dead bodies – 18 students and four teachers – were pulled out of the rubble at the conclusion of search and rescue operations late Friday.

Musa Ashoms, the commissioner for information and communication, also confirmed the death toll rose to 22, with the injured admitted to hospitals.

"Current situation, 154 people have been rescued from the debris. Sadly, 22 individuals have been confirmed deceased," he said in a statement late Friday.

He said the injured students and staff are receiving medical treatment at four hospitals in the city.

Ashoms confirmed a total of 132 hospitalized out of 154 victims of the collapse.

The government has yet to give a breakdown of the students and teachers dead as well as the injured.

Joseph Ariyo, a relative of one of the deceased students, said the family has yet to be given the victim’s body. “The government has taken over the situation and we’re only waiting for their directive," he told Anadolu, declining further comment.

Daramola Ekundayo, the school principal, said the school building caved in at about 11:30 a.m. (1130GMT) on Friday with about 200 students taking their exams supervised by a few teachers. He did not give the number of teachers who were within the building when the incident occurred.