15 teacher and 56 students Ddîe 84 got serious ìnjụr̃y as school building collapses in a secondary school in Jos. This morning (Photo

 A devastating tragedy struck the heart of Jos this morning as a three-storey classroom block at Bright Future Academy, a popular secondary school in the city, collapsed during school hours, claiming the lives of at least 15 teachers and 56 students, while 84 others sustained serious injuries.

Panic and Chaos at the Scene

Eyewitnesses reported hearing a loud, thunderous sound at around 8:45 AM, just as morning lessons had begun. Within seconds, the entire structure came crashing down, trapping dozens of students and staff members under the rubble. Rescue efforts were immediately launched by local residents before emergency services arrived.

One survivor, Grace Daniel, a senior student, described the terrifying moment:

> “We were in class when we heard cracks, and before we could run, the building just came down. I don’t know how I made it out.”

Emergency Response and Rescue Efforts

The Plateau State Emergency Management Agency (PLASEMA), the Nigerian Red Cross, and military personnel from the nearby barracks have been working non-stop to rescue survivors from the wreckage. Heavy machinery, including excavators and cranes, were deployed by mid-morning to support manual rescue efforts.

As of 2:00 PM, 84 individuals have been rushed to various hospitals across Jos, including the Jos University Teaching Hospital and Bingham University Teaching Hospital, many of them in critical condition.

Government and Community React

The Governor of Plateau State, Barr. Caleb Mutfwang, visited the scene and declared three days of mourning across the state.

> “This is an unspeakable tragedy. We mourn the loss of innocent lives, and we will hold those responsible accountable,” the governor stated.

He also announced the immediate suspension of the school’s operational license, pending investigation.

Questions Over Structural Safety

Initial reports suggest that the collapsed building, which was constructed just six years ago, may have suffered from poor engineering design or substandard materials. Residents have raised concerns in the past about visible cracks in the walls, but these warnings were allegedly ignored by the school’s management.

A Nation in Mourning

As families gather at hospitals and morgues, Jos and the entire nation grapple with yet another painful reminder of the consequences of negligence in infrastructure. Social media has been flooded with condolences, calls for justice, and heart-wrenching images of the collapse.