ANAMBRA’S NIGHT OF TERROR: Two Dead, Scores Escape as Elite Lodge Collapses

Rescue Teams Race Against Time Amid Fears More Victims May Be Trapped Beneath Rubble

By Frontline Reporters

Tragedy struck in Anambra State on Sunday night when a three-storey students’ hostel, identified as Elite Five Star Lodge, collapsed in Amaokpala, near the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, claiming two lives and leaving several others feared trapped beneath the debris.

The building, a sprawling 60-room facility housing students and other tenants, suddenly gave way, sending shockwaves through the quiet university community and triggering frantic rescue efforts by emergency responders.

Eyewitnesses said the structure collapsed without warning while occupants were inside, sparking panic among residents and passers-by.

“We heard a deafening sound moments before the building came down,” said Ifeoma, a resident who witnessed the incident. “The noise drew many students and residents to the scene, but within seconds, people were screaming for help as the entire building collapsed.”

Videos and photographs circulating on social media showed a massive crowd surrounding the disaster site as rescue workers, security personnel and volunteers combed through heaps of concrete and twisted metal in search of survivors.

A coordinated rescue operation involving the Nigerian Red Cross Society, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Anambra State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), the Anambra State Fire Service, the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies commenced in the early hours of Monday.

Using heavy-duty excavators and specialized rescue equipment, emergency personnel painstakingly cleared debris amid fears that additional victims could still be trapped beneath the rubble.

The atmosphere remained tense throughout the day as anxious students, family members and sympathizers gathered at the scene, praying for survivors while security operatives cordoned off the area to ensure unhindered rescue operations.

By Monday evening, rescue workers had recovered a second body from the collapsed structure, bringing the death toll to two.

Confirming the development, the Acting Executive Secretary of the Anambra State Emergency Management Agency, Mrs. Ndidi Omega, disclosed that one female victim was among those killed, while three injured persons had earlier been rescued and rushed to hospital for treatment.

“One female body was recovered, while three persons were rescued and taken to the hospital. Rescue operations will continue until every section of the debris has been thoroughly searched,” she stated.

Also confirming the incident, the Head of Media and Publicity of the Anambra State Fire Service, Chukwudi Chiketa, said firefighters immediately joined other emergency responders in the search-and-rescue mission upon arrival at the scene.

“Regrettably, one female victim was recovered from the rubble and confirmed dead at the scene before being evacuated to the morgue,” Chiketa said, adding that the cause of the collapse remains unknown and is currently under investigation.

He appealed to members of the public to stay away from the area to enable emergency personnel to carry out their duties safely and effectively.

The spokesperson for the Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, urged residents to remain calm, noting that officers swiftly secured the area after receiving distress calls.

“On receipt of the distress report, the police, in collaboration with other security agencies, immediately mobilized to the scene, secured the area to prevent further danger and coordinated rescue efforts,” Ikenga said.

He added that while several injured victims had been rescued and taken to a hospital in Oko for medical attention, authorities were still working to determine whether more persons remained trapped under the rubble.

“Residents are advised to avoid spreading unverified information and allow emergency responders unrestricted access to the scene,” he added.

Meanwhile, the National Emergency Management Agency has sealed off the premises of the collapsed building to facilitate uninterrupted rescue operations and enable investigators to ascertain the cause of the disaster.

According to a NEMA official, the area has been barricaded with red tape to prevent onlookers from interfering with rescue efforts.

“The building has been sealed and movement around the premises restricted. Prior to this, some students and residents were loitering around the site, thereby distracting rescue workers,” the official disclosed.

As rescue operations continue, questions are already being raised about the structural integrity of buildings within the Oko student community, with many calling for a comprehensive audit of hostels and residential facilities around tertiary institutions across the state.

For now, however, the focus remains on finding any remaining survivors and providing answers to grieving families as Anambra mourns yet another avoidable tragedy.

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