Author Topic: Survivors of collapsed JosIslamic school recount ordeals (Read 1571 times)

seniorp900 · **on:** September 15, 2015, 12:57:25 AM

As you step into the casualty unit of the Plateau State Hospital where they are receiving treatment, you cannot help but feel their pains as they shed tears profusely. Some are sitting, some lying down and some others being carried. But whatever their postures, their faces all bore expressions of pain and suffering. They
are
mostly
children
between
eight and
14
years
of
age. They had gone to learn in an Islamic school, Abu Naima, which two-storey building collapsed after a heavy downpour on Sunday evening. The building, described by many neighbours as sub-standard, uncompleted, not fit to house pigs, was where the children were given Islamic instructions for a token fee. Early reports had it that six people lost their lives and more than 24 sustained injuries in the incident. But the death toll was to rise to 10 as the Acting Chief Medical Director, CMD of the Plateau State Specialist Hospital, Dr. Philemon Golwa said two more died in the Hospital yesterday, while another source said two other persons died at a hospital in Bukuru where the children were rushed to. The building which houses a secondary school was used in the evenings and on weekends to tutor children on Islamic studies. Children who survived the incident with injuries are being treated at Bingham University Teaching Hospital (Jankwano), Plateau Specialist Hospital and Sunnah Hospital, all in Jos. A survivor, 10 years old Amina Ibrahim who could not utter any word as a result of pains in the mouth sat weakly on the bed staring into space. Her mother, Suaibat Ibrahim told Vanguard Metro, VM, that she sent the little girl and her brother, 14 years old Ruwaifa Ibrahim, to the school because it was cheap and close to their house. Mrs. Ibrahim narrated their ordeal thus: My children have always been going there though people in the area complain about the building. On that Sunday, they left home before 4pm to attend their studies. I was at home when people started running and I was informed that the building collapsed, maybe because of the heavy rain that fell. Two of my children were affected; one is more severely affected than the other. We were brought here by the rescue team; the Hospital is taking care of the injured and we believe they will recover in time. Asked if she will permit her children to return to the school after the incident, she said: Yes, they will go back, they are learning there and the Mallams teaching them are doing well. Another survivor, Maimunat Mohammed, who is also 10 years old was being pacified by her mother as she kept screaming: Mallam Sani, Mallam Sulaiman, dont leave me alone. My legs are paining me, my waist too. I told them to wait for me but they all ran and left me and that block fell on my legs. She explained that they were reading from the Koran when they heard a cracking sound and almost immediately, the blocks started falling as the building collapsed. Before rescue workers came to her aid, some blocks had fallen on her and injured her legs and waist. Yet others, Ummi Yusuf, 12 years, with back and eyes pains; Hamisu Musa, 10 years old who lost his 10 years old cousin, Idris Kabiru; Abdullahi Alhassan who is eight years old and Bassamah Ahmed who is 12 years old, all thanked Allah they survived the incident. They expressed concern about their dead colleagues and appealed to the relevant authorities for befitting schools to be provided for them so they can continue with their studies when they leave the hospital. A teacher who survived the incident, 26 years Useni
Usman, lamented the sad incidence saying: The building was uncompleted and was being used as an Islamic school. I was not in class when the incident happened. I was upstairs but a block fell on me and I broke my leg. I am okay except for a little pain. But some of my colleagues who were at the part of the building most affected broke their arms, and two were among the dead. However, a member of the community who did not want to be named said: When we raised concern about the building, they thought we were jealous. The owner of that building (names withheld), a very young man just exploited the poor parents by collecting a stipend to endanger the lives of the children. He took advantage of the crisis which affected the area in the past because children could not cross to the other side to school and established that school without any form of official approval. The building does not even have a plan but because children were attending, he was collecting N700 per term and parents just send their wards there. Now see what has happened to them. Meanwhile, the Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong, has condoled with the families of those who lost their loved ones in the incident. In a statement signed by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Emmanuel Nanle, he said: The Governor received with a heavy heart the news of the collapse of the Abu Niima Islamiyya School, Gyero Junction Bukuru on Islamic Disciples on Quranic Training. The building collapsed on the students Sunday evening following a down pour on the Jos Bukuru Metropolis. It resulted in the death of some students, while 24 others injured were rushed to the Bingham Hospital (Jankwano), Plateau Specialist Hospital, and Sunnah Hospital all in Jos for immediate medical attention . The Governor expressed deep concern for this loss of lives which brings to bear the necessity to ensure that public buildings conform to building standards and the need for them to be certified fit to accommodate students in training. In this wise the Governor has assured that all agencies of Government saddled with the responsibility of ensuring that all public buildings, particularly schools, are fit for use, are up and doing in ensuring the safety of these structures.

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Author Topic: Survivors of collapsed JosIslamic school recount ordeals (Read 1571 times)

seniorp900

Survivors of collapsed JosIslamic school recount ordeals

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