Students and teachers of Yemco Nursery, Primary and Comprehensive College in Ogba, Lagos State, narrowly avoided tragedy on Tuesday after a four-storey building housing the school collapsed shortly after the premises were evacuated.
The incident occurred at No. 11, Adudatu Street, behind County Hospital in the Aguda area of Ogba.
According to eyewitnesses, the building caved in only minutes after school authorities asked students and staff to leave the structure due to safety concerns. A resident in the neighbourhood had reportedly warned the school management that the building appeared unsafe, prompting the immediate evacuation.
Emergency officials from the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) and the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service (LSFRS) quickly arrived at the scene to secure the area and prevent people from accessing the collapsed structure.
Fortunately, no casualties were recorded in the incident.
Authorities disclosed that the building owner and the proprietors of the school may face prosecution over alleged unauthorised renovation work on the structure. While the section used by the school collapsed, a part of the building used for residential purposes remained standing beside the wreckage.
LASBCA spokesperson Ademuyiwa Adu said the agency responded promptly to the emergency and deployed personnel and equipment to the site. He added that residents in neighbouring buildings had been asked to vacate temporarily as a precautionary measure.
Officials from the Lagos State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education have also visited the location to assess the extent of the damage.
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