Students and teachers of a school in the Aguda area of Ogba, Lagos state narrowly escaped death on Monday after a four-storey building housing the institution collapsed minutes after the occupants were evacuated.
The structure, which housed Yemco Nursery, Primary and Comprehensive College, collapsed around midday at No. 11 Adudatu Street, behind County Hospital in the Aguda, Ogba.
Witnesses said the building gave way barely three minutes after students and teachers were hurriedly moved out of the premises, preventing what could have been a major tragedy.
A resident said concerns were raised earlier when wooden planks reportedly fell from the roof, sparking alarm among people in the neighbourhood.
According to the resident, an elderly man in the area alerted the school authorities that the building might be unsafe, prompting the immediate evacuation of those inside.
Another resident, Taiwo Ridwan, said the building showed visible signs of structural distress shortly before it collapsed.
“At first, the house started cracking little by little. The window frames had already fallen apart. After some minutes, the cement body of the house began peeling off. Not long after that, the building just sank,” he said.
Officials of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service later arrived at the scene, secured the area and restricted access.
Part of the property used for residential purposes remained standing beside the collapsed structure.
No casualties had been reported as of the time of filing this report, while the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service had yet to issue an official statement on the incident.