Tragedy struck in Amaokpala, near the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State, as a three-storey hostel building collapsed, claiming the lives of two individuals. The victims, a male and a female, were pulled from the rubble of the Elite 5-Star Hostel, which housed approximately 60 rooms. The incident occurred on Sunday night, July 26, 2026.
Victim identified as fresh graduate
The female victim has been identified by friends as Vivian Chinedum, a baker and recent graduate of the Department of Food Science and Technology at Federal Polytechnic, Oko. According to the Anambra State Broadcasting Service (ABS), friends revealed that Vivian had moved into the hostel in March 2026. Her body was recovered from the debris, along with an unidentified male victim.
Warning signs before collapse
Survivors of the collapse recounted chilling details leading up to the tragedy. Grace Nweke, a student at Federal Polytechnic, Oko, who moved into the hostel in January 2026, stated that around 10 p.m. on the night of the collapse, a food vendor alerted residents via a WhatsApp group that the walls of the hostel were cracking. "Before many of us could fully understand the seriousness of the warning, we heard loud cracking sounds and immediately fled for safety," Grace explained. She added that she had no knowledge of the building's structural instability prior to the incident.
Further investigations revealed that previous occupants had allegedly been directed to vacate the building due to its deteriorating condition. However, the caretaker reportedly proceeded to rent the premises to unsuspecting students, ignoring the risks.
SEMA calls for enforcement
Reacting to the collapse, the Deputy Director of the Anambra State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Ndidi Omega, described the event as "unfortunate and avoidable." She emphasized the need for relevant authorities to ensure that any building declared unsafe or marked for demolition remains unoccupied. "This tragedy could have been prevented if proper protocols were followed," Omega stated, urging stricter enforcement of building safety regulations.
The collapse has raised concerns about the safety of student accommodations in the area, with calls for thorough inspections of all hostels near educational institutions. Rescue operations concluded with the recovery of both bodies, and investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the structural failure.
