Residents of Odo-Kekere Community in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State were gripped by fear on Thursday evening after a section of a public school building suddenly collapsed.
The incident occurred after school hours and has been widely described by residents as an act of divine intervention, as no pupils were present at the time.
A source disclosed that the affected portion of the structure caved in late Thursday, producing a loud bang that attracted neighbours and passersby to the scene.
Emergency officials from the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) and the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) swiftly arrived at the location and secured the area to prevent further danger.
Investigations were ongoing as of press time to determine the remote cause of the collapse and assess the level of damage. Initial findings, however, confirmed that classrooms were empty when the incident occurred.
Search and rescue operations are still underway as emergency responders work to ascertain that no security personnel or school staff were trapped beneath the debris.
Speaking on the incident, an eyewitness and nearby resident, Mrs Boluwaji Aderinto, whose building is close to the school premises, voiced the concerns of parents and community leaders over the safety of public school infrastructure in the area. She noted that calls had previously been made for the rehabilitation of aging school buildings within the axis.
According to Aderinto, “We heard a loud crack and then dust everywhere. We thank God it didn’t happen in the morning when the children were in their desks. This is a wake-up call for the government.”
Meanwhile, a high-powered delegation from the Lagos State Ministry of Education has visited the site to conduct an on-the-spot assessment and determine the next line of action.
Confirming the development, a senior official of the ministry, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, “We have officers on site, including the Tutor General/Permanent Secretary, Education District II, already assessing the situation for further action.”
The incident has renewed concerns over the structural integrity of buildings in both public and private schools across Lagos State, with stakeholders calling for urgent inspection and comprehensive rehabilitation of primary and secondary school facilities to safeguard lives.
(VANGUARD)
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