Four persons sustained injuries on Monday when a residential apartment collapsed in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State. The collapse occurred after a prolonged heavy rainfall that began on Sunday evening and lasted into the early hours of Monday.
A resident of the community, Dusu Judith, confirmed the incident to The PUNCH in Jos. According to Judith, the house, located near Government College, Riyom, collapsed while residents were asleep, leading to the injuries of four individuals.
“The people were just sleeping in their house last night when the building caved in. Luckily, no death was recorded, but four persons were injured,” Judith explained. She added that the injured victims, mostly children, were receiving treatment at a hospital.
Another resident, Bot Rwang, described the incident as shocking, stating, “We really thank God that several family members living in the house escaped death when the house caved in on Monday morning. It is God that saved them because it is shocking how they escaped, looking at the structure which collapsed completely with debris on the ground.”
In recent months, Plateau State has witnessed several building collapses. Stakeholders have blamed these incidents on a combination of poor workmanship, substandard materials, and corruption. In July 2024, a tragic incident in the Busa Buji community of Jos North Local Government Area saw the collapse of a school building, leading to the deaths of 22 school children and injuries to at least 132 others.
Following that incident, the state government shut down the affected school, Saint Academy, and demolished other buildings within its premises. Authorities have since urged residents to maintain safety standards and obtain proper approvals when constructing buildings.
