Residents of the Odo-Kekere Community in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State were thrown into panic on Thursday evening after a structure at a public school in the neighbourhood partially collapsed.
The incident, which occurred after school hours, was described by residents as a case of divine intervention because pupils were not in the classrooms at the time.
A community source who spoke with Vanguard said a section of the school building gave way late Thursday, causing a loud noise that drew residents to the scene.
Emergency responders from the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) and the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) promptly arrived at the location and cordoned off the area to prevent further danger.
As of press time, the cause of the collapse and the extent of the damage were still under investigation.
Preliminary findings confirmed that students were not in the classrooms when the structure collapsed, and emergency teams were conducting search-and-rescue operations to ensure that no security guards or staff members were trapped under the rubble.
An eyewitness and resident, Boluwaji Aderinto, whose building is adjacent to the affected school, expressed concerns shared by parents and community leaders over the poor state of educational infrastructure in the area.
According to her, repeated calls had been made for the renovation of ageing school buildings in the axis.
“We heard a loud crack and then dust everywhere. 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,” Aderinto said.
Meanwhile, a high-powered delegation from the Lagos State Ministry of Education has visited the scene for an on-the-spot assessment.
A senior official of the ministry, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that top officials were already on ground.
“We have officers on site, including the Tutor-General/Permanent Secretary, Education District II, already assessing the situation for further action,” the official said.
The incident has reignited concerns over the structural integrity of buildings in both public and private schools across Lagos State, with stakeholders calling for an urgent audit and overhaul of ageing school infrastructure to prevent future tragedies.
Residents urged the government to take proactive measures to ensure the safety of pupils, teachers and school workers, warning that further neglect could result in avoidable loss of lives.
