By Emem Nsini-Godwin
Panic gripped residents of Amokpala, Oko, in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State, in the early hours of Monday after a three-storey students’ hostel, identified as Elite Five Star Lodge, collapsed, trapping an undetermined number of occupants beneath the rubble.
The building, located beside Tonimas Filling Station, reportedly gave way while many of its student residents were asleep, sparking a frantic rescue operation involving security agencies, emergency responders and volunteers.
Although the exact number of casualties had yet to be confirmed at the time of filing this report, eyewitnesses said several students were inside the building when it collapsed.
One of the eyewitnesses, who identified herself simply as Ifeoma, recounted the terrifying moments before the incident.
“We heard a very loud noise before the building collapsed. The noise attracted many residents and students, who rushed to the scene to see what had happened,” she said.
“Within moments after the loud noise from the building, the occupants inside started shouting for help as the building fell.”
Videos and photographs from the scene showed large crowds gathered around the collapsed structure as firefighters, security operatives, and volunteers worked tirelessly to rescue trapped victims. Personnel from the Anambra State Fire Service and the Anambra State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) were among the emergency responders deployed to the site.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said a joint security team had launched an immediate rescue operation following reports of the collapse.
“The Anambra State Police-led Joint Security Team assures the public that rescue operations are ongoing following the late-night incident on Sunday involving the collapse of a three-storey building known as Elite Five Star Lodge, located beside Tonimas Filling Station, Amokpala, Oko, in Orumba North Local Government Area of the state,” Ikenga said.
According to him, the collapse left several occupants trapped beneath the debris, prompting the swift deployment of police officers and other security agencies to secure the area and coordinate rescue efforts.
He noted that the Anambra State Fire Service and the Anambra State Emergency Management Agency responded promptly and joined the ongoing search-and-rescue operation.
Ikenga disclosed that some victims had already been rescued and taken to a hospital in Oko for treatment, while search teams continued combing through the wreckage for others who might still be trapped.
He urged residents to remain calm, refrain from spreading unverified information, and stay away from the disaster site to allow emergency workers unrestricted access.
“Further updates will be communicated as more verified information becomes available,” the police spokesperson added.
As of the time of this report, authorities had yet to establish the full extent of casualties or determine the cause of the building collapse. Rescue operations were still underway.
