Residents of the Odo-Kekere community in Ikorodu, Lagos State, were gripped by panic Thursday evening after part of a public school building collapsed, authorities and witnesses said.
The incident occurred after school hours, sparing students who were not in their classrooms at the time. Neighbors said the structure gave way with a loud crash that drew residents to the scene.
Emergency responders from the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency and the Lagos State Building Control Agency arrived shortly after the collapse and cordoned off the area as a safety precaution.
Officials said the cause of the collapse and the extent of the damage were still under investigation. Rescue teams were conducting search operations to ensure that no security guards or staff members were trapped beneath the rubble.
An eyewitness and resident, Boluwaji Aderinto, whose building is adjacent to the school, said the incident heightened long-standing concerns among parents and community leaders about aging infrastructure in the area.
“We heard a loud crack and then dust everywhere,” Aderinto said. “We thank God it didn’t happen in the morning when the children were in their desks. This is a wake-up call for the government.”
A delegation from the Lagos State Ministry of Education later visited the site for an on-the-spot assessment. A senior ministry official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said officers, including the Tutor General and Permanent Secretary for Education District II, were already evaluating the situation and determining next steps.
