Remains of Fedpoly Oko Graduate, Another Tenant Recovered from Elite 5-Star Hostel Crash Site

By Our Reporter

A fresh graduate who had only recently completed her studies has been confirmed among the victims of the tragic collapse of the Elite 5-Star Hostel in Amaokpala, near the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Anambra State, as rescue efforts continue.

The body of Vivian Chinedum, a baker and fresh graduate of the Department of Food Science and Technology, Federal Polytechnic, Oko, has been recovered from the rubble of the collapsed Elite 5-Star Hostel in Amaokpala, Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State.

Vivian is one of two victims confirmed dead following the tragic incident, which occurred on the night of Sunday, July 26, 2026. Rescue workers also recovered the body of a male victim, whose identity had yet to be officially confirmed at the time of filing this report.

The multi-room hostel, reportedly containing about 60 rooms, suddenly caved in, trapping occupants beneath the debris and sending shockwaves through the student community.

According to the Anambra State Broadcasting Service (ABS), friends identified the deceased female victim as Vivian Chinedum, who had moved into the hostel in March 2026 after completing her studies.

Survivors have revealed that there were visible warning signs shortly before the building collapsed.

One of the occupants, Grace Nweke, recalled that at about 10 p.m. on Sunday, a food vendor living in the building raised the alarm through the hostel’s WhatsApp group after noticing alarming cracks on the walls.

“A food vendor alerted everyone through our WhatsApp group that the walls were cracking. Before many of us could fully understand the gravity of the situation, we heard loud cracking sounds and ran for our lives,” Grace recounted.

Grace, who said she had been living in the hostel since January 2026, explained that she had no prior knowledge that the building was structurally compromised.

“I never knew the building was unsafe until that night. We later heard that previous tenants had allegedly been asked to vacate because of the building’s condition,” she said.

According to survivors, they later learnt that former occupants had allegedly been directed to leave the property over concerns about its deteriorating structural integrity.

Despite the reported warnings, the hostel’s caretaker allegedly rented out the building to unsuspecting students, a claim that is yet to receive an official response.

The incident has sparked renewed concerns over the safety of private student hostels around tertiary institutions and raised questions about building inspections, regulatory enforcement, and accountability in Anambra State.

Authorities are expected to continue investigations to determine the immediate and remote causes of the collapse, while families of the victims and members of the academic community mourn the tragic loss.