Students Feared Trapped As Private Hostel Near Oko Polytechnic Collapses

Students Feared Trapped as Private Hostel Near Oko Polytechnic Collapses A three-storey private hostel accommodating students of the Federal Polytechnic Oko has collapsed in Amokpala, Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State, leaving an unknown number of occupants feared trapped beneath the rubble. The building, identified as Elite Five Star Lodge, reportedly collapsed late on Sunday night, causing panic among students and residents in the Oko Polytechnic community. Witnesses said cries for help were heard from beneath the debris shortly after the collapse. Emergency responders, including personnel from the Anambra State Police Command, the state fire service, the Anambra State Emergency Management Agency SEMA and other agencies, were deployed to the scene to begin rescue operations. Several injured victims have reportedly been rescued from the collapsed structure and taken to a hospital in Oko for treatment, while search teams continue efforts to locate other occupants believed to still be trapped. Authorities said the exact number of casualties and those trapped could not immediately be confirmed because rescue operations were still ongoing.The spokesperson for the Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said a joint security team had secured the area and was coordinating emergency response efforts. He urged residents to remain calm, avoid spreading unverified information and allow rescue workers unrestricted access to the site. The incident has renewed concerns about the safety of private buildings and student accommodation facilities around higher institutions in Nigeria, with calls for stronger enforcement of building standards and safety regulations.