By Deborah Nnamdi
A major tragedy was narrowly avoided on Wednesday in Taraba State when classrooms at Government Secondary School, Namnai, in Gassol Local Government Area collapsed amid a severe downpour.
The incident occurred while final-year students were sitting for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), prompting hundreds of students and examination officials—including members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC)—to flee for safety.
Eyewitnesses reported that the storm began around 6 p.m., shortly after a second batch of students had commenced their examination. Intense winds and heavy rain led to the structural failure of the building, trapping several students and staff members under the rubble.
Dozens sustained injuries, ranging from fractures to other physical traumas. Teachers, exam supervisors, and corps members were also among those affected. Some were rescued hours later by local residents who quickly responded to the emergency.
Alhaji DanAzumi Lauris, a resident of Namnai, confirmed the incident in a telephone interview. He noted that the first group of students had completed their exams and left before the storm struck.
“It was the second set that was caught by the rain. The classrooms collapsed just minutes after they began writing,” he explained.
The injured were taken to a nearby primary healthcare centre for urgent treatment. The windstorm also caused widespread damage to homes throughout the community.
