A survivor of the devastating collapse of a three-storey student hostel near the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Anambra State, has recounted the terrifying moments that forced him to leap from the second floor in a desperate attempt to save his life, offering a chilling account of one of the state’s most tragic building disasters in recent times.
The incident occurred at the privately owned Elite Five Star Lodge in Amaokpala, Orumba North Local Government Area, where the building suddenly gave way while occupants were inside. The collapse triggered panic across the surrounding community as students, residents and emergency responders raced against time to rescue those trapped beneath the rubble.
Narrating his ordeal, the survivor explained that he had noticed signs of danger moments before the building came down. Realising that the structure was failing, he made the split-second decision to jump from the second floor rather than remain inside the collapsing building.
According to him, the leap left him with injuries, but it ultimately saved his life. He described hearing loud cracking sounds before parts of the building began to crumble, creating confusion as occupants scrambled to escape through whatever route they could find.
“I had no other option,” the survivor recalled, explaining that remaining inside would likely have proved fatal as sections of the building continued collapsing around him. His testimony has become one of the most compelling accounts of the disaster, highlighting the frightening decisions some occupants had to make in their struggle to survive.
Emergency response teams comprising the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Anambra State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), the Anambra State Fire Service, the Nigerian Red Cross Society, the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies were immediately deployed to the scene. Working with heavy equipment and rescue tools, personnel spent hours searching through the debris in an effort to locate survivors and recover victims.
Authorities later confirmed that two people lost their lives, while three others were rescued alive and taken to hospital for treatment. Rescue operations continued beyond the first day as emergency workers painstakingly searched every section of the collapsed structure to ensure that no one remained trapped beneath the rubble.
The tragedy has generated renewed concern over the safety of privately owned student hostels located around tertiary institutions. Although the building was situated close to the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, the institution clarified that the lodge was privately owned and located outside the campus, adding that none of its students had been officially confirmed among the fatalities at the time of its statement.
The collapse has also reignited conversations about compliance with building regulations, structural integrity assessments and routine inspections of hostels occupied by students. Built-up university communities across Nigeria have witnessed rapid expansion in private accommodation in recent years, prompting experts to call for stricter enforcement of construction standards and periodic safety evaluations.
Professionals in the construction and education sectors argue that student accommodation should receive the same level of regulatory attention as other public buildings because of the large number of young people who depend on them throughout the academic year. They maintain that regular structural audits, adherence to approved building plans and effective supervision during construction are essential to preventing similar tragedies.
For many residents of Amaokpala, the survivor’s account illustrates just how narrowly several occupants escaped death. His decision to jump from the second floor, though risky, became the difference between life and death in a disaster that unfolded within moments and left families, students and the wider community in mourning.
As investigations into the cause of the collapse continue, stakeholders are urging relevant authorities to establish the factors responsible for the structural failure and ensure accountability where negligence is identified. Many also hope the incident will serve as a catalyst for stronger oversight of student accommodation across the country, with the ultimate goal of preventing future building collapses and safeguarding lives.
