The Plateau state government has declared a three days mourning period for the 22 school children who died in a collapsed school building on Friday at Saints Academy in Busa Bujji, Jos.
The state government also said it will set up a high power committee to investigate the cause of the collapsed building.
The two storey classrooms collapsed on Friday at about 8pm, killing 22 students while 132 others were injured, including some of their teachers.
Speaking when he visited the school on Saturday, the state governor, Caleb Mutfwang, said the committee will comprise of building professionals to ascertain the cause of the unfortunate incident.
Mutfwang who ordered the immediate closure of the school, warned that anyone found culpable in the collapsed building will face the wrath of the law.
He said the state government will embarked on technical audit of all private schools in the state to test their structural integrity – whether they are safe for human habitation.
Mutfwang also blame public officials who are supposed to supervise the construction of buildings.
“It is unfortunate what has happened, but of course, what it means is that this school is closed down immediately.
“We can’t take any further chances. We need to send this message, particularly, to owners of private schools”, the governor said.
He said the motive for profit by owners of private schools, “must not overshadow the safety of lives, so we are going to take steps immediately to do a technical audit of all the schools.”
“We are going to test their structural integrity to ensure that they are safe for human habitation.
“It is very clear that there are buildings that are not supposed to have been built.
“Some buildings are not built in the right places, some were built without approval. Some were built without the right materials.
“We are going to take time to correct these things. I won’t just blame the school, I will also blame our public officials who are supposed to supervise these buildings but didn’t know their job.
We are going to set up a very high power committee to investigate this incident.
“We are going to bring building professionals and anyone found culpable will face the wrath of the law. We cannot afford this situation”, Mutfwang said.
Meanwhile, the commissioner for Information, Musa Ashoms, in a statement on Saturday in Jos, said the governor had declared a three- days mourning period following the death of the students
He said Mutfwang also visited hospitals where the wounded students and their teachers were receiving treatment.
The statement said, 74 of the wounded victims have been discharged from the hospitals.
Ashoms said the governor commiserated with the families of the victims and promised that the state government would bear the cost of medical treatment of those in the hospitals.
The commissioner added that the governor has ordered for the arrest of artisanal miners, mining around residential areas in the state.
The statement said, “In response to the tragic loss of lives and injuries sustained by teachers and students of Saints Academy Jos, the Executive Governor of Plateau State, Caleb Mutfwang, has declared a three-day period of mourning from July 13 to July 15, 2024.
“During this time, all flags will be flown at half-mast to honour the victims of the school building collapse in Jos.”
