OKO, ANAMBRA STATE; Fear and anxiety have gripped the Oko Polytechnic community in Anambra State following the collapse of a three-storey private student hostel on Sunday night, with an unconfirmed number of students feared trapped beneath the rubble.
The building, identified as Elite Five Star Lodge, is located at Amokpala, Oko, near Tonimas Filling Station, within the Federal Polytechnic Oko community in Orumba North Local Government Area.
According to reports, emergency rescue operations commenced immediately after the incident, involving personnel from the Anambra State Police Command, Anambra State Fire Service, Anambra State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), and other security and emergency response agencies.
Several injured occupants have reportedly been rescued from the debris and rushed to a nearby hospital in Oko for urgent medical attention. However, rescue workers continue to hear cries for help from beneath the collapsed structure, raising fears that more victims may still be trapped.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson of the Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said a police-led joint security team quickly secured the scene and coordinated rescue efforts to prevent further casualties.
He appealed to members of the public to remain calm, avoid spreading unverified information, and stay away from the disaster site to enable emergency responders carry out uninterrupted rescue operations.
The police spokesperson added that further verified updates would be communicated as rescue efforts continue.
As of the time of filing this report, authorities had not confirmed the exact number of casualties, injured persons, or those still trapped beneath the rubble.
AIV NEWS will continue to monitor the situation and provide verified updates as more information becomes available.
