School collapse leaves students shaken as classroom caves in during lesson, but all miraculously escape without fatalities.
How Final-Year Students Escaped Death in Taraba School Building Collapse
The storm came without warning, but the danger had always been there.
On Wednesday evening, tragedy nearly struck at Government Secondary School, Namnai, in Taraba State’s Gassol Local Government Area.
A group of final-year students writing their West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE)
narrowly escaped death when their classroom collapsed in the middle of a heavy downpour.
What followed was chaos then relief as a determined community raced against time to save their children from the rubble.
From Routine to Ruin: A School Day Turned Nightmare
The day began like any other in exam season. Students arrived early, focused on their papers.
The first group completed their session without incident.
However, everything changed during the second round of exams, which started around 6 p.m.
Dark clouds gathered quickly. Within minutes, torrential rain pounded the school’s already-weak structures.
The wind howled through the trees, and as lightning cracked across the sky, students inside the aging classroom realized they were in serious danger.
Just then, the walls began to shake and seconds later, part of the classroom gave way.
When the Roof Fell, So Did the Calm
As the roof caved in and bricks crumbled, terrified students and exam officials scrambled for safety.
Those who stood close to the exit managed to run outside. Others weren’t so lucky they got trapped under debris and broken furniture.
Eyewitnesses described the collapse as sudden and violent. “It felt like the entire sky came down with the classroom,” said Musa Ibrahim, a student who had just stepped out to use the restroom.
“I turned around and saw dust and screams.”
Several students sustained injuries ranging from fractured limbs to severe bruises.
Teachers and NYSC invigilators also got caught in the wreckage. However, instead of waiting for emergency responders, local residents rushed in to help.
The Village That Wouldn’t Watch Children Die
The Namnai community sprang into action immediately. Men, women, and even teenagers ran toward the crumbling school, ignoring the danger.
Without waiting for permission, they began digging through the rubble with hoes, spades, and their bare hands.
One of the rescuers, Alhaji DanAzumi Lauris, described the effort: “We didn’t wait for government or police.
These are our children. We pulled them out one by one.”
Thanks to their swift response, no life was lost. Injured students received treatment at a nearby primary healthcare center.
Medical staff, overwhelmed by the sudden influx of patients, did their best with limited resources.
A Disaster Years in the Making
While the collapse shocked many, residents had warned about the state of the school for years.
Parents had written letters. Community leaders had voiced concerns. Still, nothing changed.
The classrooms had cracked walls, sagging roofs, and broken windows.
Rainwater leaked through the ceiling every year, yet no major renovation had taken place.
Now, those warnings feel like prophecy. And for many families, this incident proves what they already feared children in rural Nigeria often learn under dangerous conditions.
Read Also:
- Lagos building collapse kills three In Ikorodu
- Gender-Based Violence: Lagos Takes Empathetic Action
- Obasanjo survival under Abacha
Schools or Death Traps?
GSS Namnai is not an isolated case. Across Nigeria, especially in the North-East and North-Central zones, schools remain structurally unsafe.
Some buildings date back to the 1970s. Others were hastily constructed without considering modern safety standards.
Why do these schools continue operating? Because communities have no alternatives.
In many villages, one government secondary school serves hundreds of children across several towns. Shutting it down without a replacement simply isn’t an option.
The Storm Exposed More Than Just Weak Bricks
Aside from the collapsed classroom, the storm destroyed several houses across Namnai. Roofs flew off.
Walls fell apart. Crops got washed away. The entire town bore the brunt of the weather.
This wasn’t just an isolated rainfall it was part of a growing pattern of extreme weather.
Experts warn that climate change will make storms like this more frequent and intense.
Unfortunately, most public infrastructure in rural Nigeria isn’t built to withstand it.
Students Still Traumatised
Although physically rescued, many students continue to battle trauma. Several admitted that they now fear entering classrooms.
Some confessed they couldn’t sleep that night. Others say they don’t know if they can complete their exams.
“I saw my best friend’s leg trapped under a desk,” said one student. “Now, every sound makes me jump.”
Counselors have not yet been deployed to the school, despite these psychological needs.
So far, parents and teachers are offering informal comfort but they worry it’s not enough.
Corps Members Who Stood Their Ground
Amid the chaos, NYSC members serving as WASSCE invigilators showed courage. Though shaken, they returned to help retrieve exam papers and comfort students.
One corps member, who asked to remain anonymous, said: “We’re here to serve. Even when things get scary, we stay because these students look up to us.”
Their actions, along with those of the local rescue teams, have been praised widely.
Where Was the Government?
Local authorities confirmed the incident but have remained largely silent about their response plan.
While the Taraba State Ministry of Education acknowledged the event, officials said a formal investigation would follow.
Meanwhile, education advocacy groups are calling for immediate structural audits across all schools in the state.
“This is no longer about neglect. It’s about accountability,” said Halima Gambo of SafeSchools Nigeria.
What Happens Next?
In the wake of this near-tragedy, the community faces hard questions. Can students return to the same unsafe buildings?
Will the government provide temporary shelters? Will exams continue as scheduled?
Already, some parents are threatening to withdraw their children if no urgent intervention happens.
The school principal has requested emergency relief materials and tents from the local education board.
A temporary exam venue is also under consideration.
A Moment for National Reflection
This event should not fade into the next news cycle. It must serve as a wake-up call. When schools collapse, it’s not just walls that fall it’s trust, safety, and the right to learn.
If students must risk their lives to earn an education, then the nation has failed them. It’s not enough to set exams and write curriculum policies.
Real investment in safe learning environments must follow.
Time to Choose: Concrete or Condolences?
Nigeria must decide will we continue building with hope and paper, or will we reinforce our education system with steel and sincerity?
The lives of the Namnai students were spared, but only barely. Next time, we may not be so lucky.
Conclusion: Make Safety the Standard
This story must not end here. If one school collapses, thousands more may be close behind.
Government officials, NGOs, and community leaders must act now before hope turns to grief.
Join the Conversation:
What condition is your local school in?
Send us your photos, comments, or personal stories.
Let’s work together to hold leaders accountable and push for safer schools.
Author: Alimi Ibrahim
Date May 29,2025