Death Trap Before Disaster? Survivors Reveal Warning Signs Before Anambra Hostel Collapse Killed Two Students

By Our Reporter

AMAOKPALA, ANAMBRA — Survivors of the three-storey building that collapsed in Amaokpala, Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State, have revealed that the tragedy may have been preceded by visible structural defects that were allegedly ignored despite repeated complaints.

The building, occupied mainly by students of Federal Polytechnic Oko, caved in at about 10 p.m. on Sunday, July 26, 2026, killing two occupants and leaving several others injured.

As rescue workers from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Anambra State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) recovered the bodies of the victims, classmates, friends, and relatives broke down in tears at the scene.

“We had been living with visible cracks and defects,” one survivor said, echoing the concerns raised by several tenants who believe the warning signs were there long before the disaster struck.

One of the survivors, Chioma Akabuike, said she narrowly escaped death after being alerted by a neighbour.

“I was asleep when my neighbour started banging on my door, shouting that the building was about to collapse. I didn’t notice any defect in my room, but our lodge’s Vice President had earlier told me there were visible structural cracks in the kitchen downstairs,” she recounted.

Another tenant, Gift Nwabueze, who moved into the building in January 2026 after paying ₦220,000 in rent, said she was informed that the ground floor had been vacated because maintenance work was planned.

“The caretaker only told me nobody was staying on the ground floor because they wanted to carry out maintenance. Nothing more was explained,” she said.

A recent graduate of Federal Polytechnic Oko, Chibuike Solomon, alleged that cracks had become a regular feature of the building before the collapse.

“There were visible cracks on the ground floor. The caretaker kept patching them instead of addressing the real problem,” he claimed.

Another survivor, Grace Nweke, who also rented a room in January for ₦180,000, said her repeated complaints about cracks on the walls were ignored.

“Whenever I complained, the caretaker would simply refer me to a man identified as Mr. Abu for repairs. Nothing substantial was ever done,” she alleged.

Nweke further claimed that a former tenant told her the landlord had reportedly issued tenants a quit notice as far back as April 2025. However, she alleged that the caretaker, identified only as Mr. Chuks, continued collecting rent from unsuspecting students without disclosing any safety concerns.

Residents who joined the initial rescue efforts also expressed concern over the possible role of ongoing road construction near the building.

One of the first responders, Ifeanyi Ezefunamba, commended the swift deployment of government rescue equipment, including an ambulance and an excavator, but suggested that excavation work along the nearby road could have contributed to the collapse because of the building’s proximity to the dualisation project.

Responding to the speculation, Anambra State Commissioner for Works, Okey Ezeobi, confirmed that preliminary information indicated the building had existing structural defects.

“If the road construction contributed to the collapse, it would suggest that the building was already within the government’s right-of-way and failed to observe the approved minimum six-metre setback from the road,” he said.

A representative of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) in Anambra State, Appolos Ezeoba, said the incident reinforces the need for strict enforcement of engineering standards.

“This tragedy once again highlights why buildings must undergo proper engineering certification before construction,” he stated.

Addressing concerns over the growing number of building collapses within the Oko and Amaokpala axis, the Anambra State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Chijioke Ojukwu, announced immediate government action.

“All commercial buildings, lodges and hostels within the area will undergo structural integrity tests to determine their safety and durability,” Ojukwu said.

He also sympathised with the families of the deceased and confirmed that the government had sealed off the collapsed building while investigations continue.

The Anambra State Government, through the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, has commenced a full investigation into the incident, which claimed two lives and left several others hospitalised.

The outcome of the investigation is expected to determine the immediate and remote causes of the collapse, as authorities intensify efforts to prevent similar tragedies across the state.