Four people sustained injuries early Monday morning when a residential building collapsed in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The incident occurred after a night of heavy rainfall, which began on Sunday and continued through the night into the early hours of Monday.
Residents of the area reported that the building, located near Government College in Riyom, gave way while the occupants were asleep. Eyewitnesses said that the structure caved in suddenly, trapping the residents inside.
Fortunately, there were no fatalities, though four individuals, mainly children, suffered injuries and are currently receiving treatment at a local hospital.
“The people were just sleeping in their house last night when the building caved in. Luckily, no death was recorded but four persons were injured,” said Dusu Judith, a resident of the community who confirmed the incident.
Judith further noted that those injured were mostly children, adding that the collapsed building left the community in shock. “It’s a miracle that no lives were lost,” she said.
Another resident, Bot Rwang, expressed relief that the situation wasn’t worse.
“We really thank God that several family members living in the house escaped death when the house caved in on Monday morning,” Rwang said.
Rwang described the incident as shocking, noting that the entire structure had completely collapsed, leaving only debris on the ground.
The incident has brought renewed attention to the issue of building collapses in Plateau State, which has seen several major accidents in recent months. Stakeholders have frequently pointed to poor construction practices, low-quality building materials, and corruption as factors contributing to these tragedies.
Just two months ago, in July, Saint Academy School building in the Busa Buji community of Jos North Local Government Area collapsed, killing 22 schoolchildren and injuring at least 132 others.
The Plateau State government responded by closing down the school and demolishing other unsafe structures in the area. The government has since warned residents to ensure they follow safety guidelines and obtain proper permits before constructing buildings.