By Oyinkansayo Wole-Bodunde.
A storey building on Ekhator Street, Benin, in the Ekosodin area of Edo state, collapsed during an early morning downpour on Saturday, September 14, causing widespread panic in the student community.
The area is home to a large number of students, many of whom live there due to a shortage of accommodation at the nearby University of Benin (UNIBEN).
According to reports, some trapped students have been rescued, while the search for others continues. A student at the scene, who spoke on condition of anonymity, stated, “The rescue team is still searching for one of the victims who remains trapped inside the rubble, called from inside and the rescue team has continued its search to locate and rescue her and others who are still trapped.”
The student also confirmed that a university rescue team had managed to evacuate some of the trapped occupants, with several severely injured victims being rushed to the hospital for medical treatment.
The Dean of Student Affairs is reportedly on the scene, coordinating rescue efforts alongside the university team. The incident has been confirmed by several publications, including Vanguard, Leadership, and The Nigerian Tribune, in their latest reports on Saturday.
