Saturday, July 13, 2024 - Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State has ordered the closure of Saints Academy in Jos, which collapsed on Friday, July 12.
The school, which has 284 Secondary students
and 145 Primary pupils collapsed on Friday morning killing 22 persons and
leaving 154 others injured.
The state Commissioner for Information, Musa Ashoms, confirmed the clossure of
the school in a statement on Saturday.
Ashoms said Muftwang gave the order during
his visit to the site of the collapsed building at the Busa Buji community.
The commissioner added that the governor also ordered the arrest of artisanal
miners, mining around residential areas in the state.
He stated that Muftwang also commiserated
with the families of the deceased children and promised that the state
government would bear the cost of the treatment of the injured students
Ashoms said the state government has
declared a three-day mourning period following the sad incident.
The statement read in part, “In response to
the tragic loss of lives and injuries sustained by teachers and students of
Saints Academy Jos, the Executive Governor of Plateau State, Caleb Mutfwang,
has declared a three-day period of mourning from July 13 to July 15, 2024.
During this time, all flags will be flown at half-mast to honour the victims of
the school building collapse in Jos.
“Governor Mutfwang extends his heartfelt condolences to the families affected
by this devastating incident and urges citizens to strictly follow building
codes and ethics to prevent such tragedies. He emphasizes the need for all
developers and property owners to submit their building plans to the Jos
Metropolitan Development Board (JMDB) for verification and revalidation, as
part of the enforcement of Executive Order 003.
“We offer our deepest sympathies and
unwavering support to those affected during this incredibly difficult time. We
are dedicated to providing the best possible medical care for the injured and
will conduct a thorough investigation to determine the cause of the collapse.
“The safety and well-being of our
citizens, especially our children, is our top priority. We urge all schools to
comply with safety regulations and secure the necessary approvals from the JMDB
before beginning any construction projects.
“Governor Mutfwang also extends his deepest
gratitude to the people of Plateau State for their tremendous support and
solidarity in the wake of this tragedy. He thanks the first responders for
their swift action and commends the many citizens who donated blood and other
resources to aid the injured.”
The statement, however, said that out of the
154 persons who were injured and rushed to the hospital, 74 of them had been
treated and discharged from the hospital
“As of the time of this release, 58
individuals remain hospitalised, while the rest have been treated and
discharged:
– Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH): 6
– Plateau State Specialist Hospital (PSSH): 6
– Bingham University Teaching Hospital (BhUTH): 14
– Our Lady of Apostles Hospital (OLA): 32
“A total of 74 persons have been discharged,” it added.
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