Hundreds of secondary school students writing their final year West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) narrowly escaped death when strong winds and heavy rainfall caused the collapse of a classroom building at Government Secondary School, Namnai village, Gassol Local Government Area.
The incident occurred around 6 p.m. as the second batch of students had just begun their exams.
“Many victims, both male and female students, sustained serious injuries, including fractures,” said Alhaji DanAzumi Lauris, a resident of Namnai.
Teachers, exam supervisors, and corps members were also trapped under the rubble but were rescued after several hours by local residents.
The injured were rushed to a nearby primary healthcare centre for treatment.
Several houses in the town were also damaged by the storm alongside the school building.
In a related development, the heavy downpour disrupted WASSCE examinations in Jalingo, the state capital, where flooding and poor visibility prevented many students from returning home until after 1 a.m.
As of this report, authorities have not yet issued an official statement on the extent of the damage or whether the examination schedule will be adjusted.