A desperate rescue operation is underway in southeastern Nigeria after a three-storey student hostel collapsed overnight, trapping dozens of occupants beneath the rubble in a tragedy that has shocked the country and sparked renewed concerns over building safety.
The building, identified as Elite Five Star Lodge, caved in late Sunday in Oko, the host community of the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, in Anambra State. The hostel, located beside Tonimas Filling Station in the Amokpala area, was occupied by students when the structure suddenly gave way.
Emergency responders, including officers of the Anambra State Police Command, the State Fire Service, the Anambra State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), and volunteers from the community, rushed to the scene shortly after receiving distress calls. Working against time, rescue teams have been clearing tons of concrete and twisted metal in a race to reach those believed to still be trapped beneath the collapsed building.
Several victims have already been rescued alive and taken to hospitals in Oko for urgent medical treatment. Others were recovered lifeless from the debris and moved to a mortuary. However, authorities say the exact number of casualties remains unknown as rescue efforts continue.
Police spokesperson SP Tochukwu Ikenga confirmed that security agencies immediately secured the area to prevent further danger and coordinated emergency operations. He said officials are focused on rescuing survivors before determining the full scale of the disaster.
The cause of the collapse has not yet been established. Structural engineers and investigators are expected to examine the site once search and rescue operations are completed. The incident has reignited questions over compliance with building regulations, construction standards, and routine inspections in Nigeria, where building collapses have repeatedly claimed lives in recent years.
Residents gathered around the disaster scene as anxious families searched for information about missing loved ones. Authorities have appealed to the public to remain calm, avoid spreading unverified reports, and allow emergency workers unrestricted access to the site.
The collapse has sent shockwaves through the Federal Polytechnic Oko community, with students and residents expressing grief and fear as the search for survivors continues. Many are hoping that more people will be rescued alive despite the difficult conditions facing emergency teams.
As excavators and rescue personnel continue working around the clock, the nation waits for official confirmation of the number of victims. For now, the focus remains on saving lives and uncovering what led to one of the most devastating student hostel disasters in recent months.
