A devastating incident has sent shockwaves through the University of Benin (UNIBEN) community.
A storey building collapsed during a torrential downpour on Saturday morning in Benin City, Edo State, trapping several students inside.
The collapse occurred on Ekhator Street in Ekosodin, an area notorious for housing a large number of students.
Eyewitnesses reported a scene of chaos as the heavy rains battered the city, leading to the structural failure of the building.
One student, who chose to remain anonymous, recounted the harrowing experience to SaharaReporters, “A university rescue team managed to extract some of the trapped occupants, though several were severely injured.”
He emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, “The injured victims were promptly rushed to the hospital for medical treatment.”
Tragically, not all individuals have been accounted for. The student revealed, “The rescue team is still searching for one victim who remains trapped inside the rubble. It was reported that the victim called from inside the building, pleading for help, and efforts are ongoing to locate and rescue them.”
In a show of support, the Dean of Students from UNIBEN arrived at the scene to coordinate rescue operations alongside the university’s dedicated team.
Despite the ongoing efforts, the university management has yet to issue an official statement regarding the cause of the collapse or the total number of individuals affected.