The management of the Federal Polytechnic in Anambra State, has denied reports that any of its students died in the collapse of the Elite Five Star Hostel in Amaokpala, insisting that no student has been confirmed among the fatalities from the incident.
The institution disclosed that the two persons initially believed to have been trapped beneath the rubble were not students of the polytechnic, the management adding that the privately owned hostel, located outside the campus, accommodated both students and non-students,
In a statement issued on Monday by it’s Public Relations Officer, Oguegbu Udoka, it clarified that the collapsed building in Amaokpala, Orumba North Local Government Area, and was neither owned nor managed by the institution.
According to Udoka, preliminary information available to the management indicated that no Federal Polytechnic, Oko student had been confirmed dead in the incident.
“No Federal Polytechnic, Oko, student has been confirmed dead in the collapsed building. The two persons believed to be trapped in the rubble are reportedly not students of our institution,” he said.
“Most students had already left campus after completing their second-semester examinations before the incident occurred.
“The Rector of the institution, Chioma Awuzie, visited the scene on Monday morning alongside school officials to assess the situation, while state government officials also joined the rescue efforts.”
The polytechnic urged members of the public to disregard reports suggesting that its students were among those killed, assuring parents, guardians and the school community that it would continue to monitor developments and provide verified updates as emergency operations progressed.
Meanwhile, rescue efforts continued at the site as the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) sealed off the collapsed building to facilitate an uninterrupted search-and-recovery operation.
Emergency responders, supported by officials of the Anambra State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and other relevant agencies, deployed heavy-duty excavators and specialised rescue equipment to carefully remove debris in the hope of locating anyone who might still be trapped beneath the rubble.
The operation drew anxious residents, students and sympathisers to the scene, where security personnel cordoned off the area to prevent interference and ensure rescuers had unrestricted access while officials worked to account for all occupants of the building.
The Acting Executive Secretary of the Anambra State Emergency Management Agency, Ndidi Omega, confirmed that the lifeless body of a female victim had been recovered from the collapsed structure.
Omega also disclosed that a young man was still believed to be trapped beneath the debris, while three other victims rescued earlier had been taken to a nearby hospital and were receiving medical treatment.
She assured that search-and-rescue operations would continue until every section of the collapsed building had been thoroughly searched and all victims accounted for.