The management of Federal Polytechnic Oko has clarified that none of its students died in the Sunday night building collapse.
The private hostel, Elite Five Star Lodge, located in Amaokpala near the institution, caved in late Sunday.
In a statement on Monday, the polytechnic’s Public Relations Officer, Dr Oguegbu Udoka, confirmed the building was privately owned.
He said the lodge housed both students and non-students.
“No Federal Polytechnic, Oko, student has been confirmed dead in the collapsed building,” Udoka stated.
“The two persons believed to be trapped in the rubble are reportedly not students of our institution.”
He added that most students had already left campus after completing their examinations.
The Rector, Dr Chioma Awuzie, visited the scene on Monday morning alongside school officials to assess the situation.
State government officials also joined the rescue efforts.
The institution urged the public to disregard contrary reports.
Meanwhile, NEMA has sealed off the premises of the collapsed building.
Tragically, the lifeless body of a female victim has been recovered from the rubble.
Three rescued victims are currently receiving medical attention at a nearby hospital.
The atmosphere at the scene remained tense as anxious residents and students watched rescue operations.
Emergency workers used heavy-duty excavators to carefully remove debris.
Security personnel cordoned off the area to ensure unrestricted access for responders.
The Acting Executive Secretary of Anambra SEMA, Ndidi Omega, confirmed the recovery of the female victim’s body.
She added that the body of a young man was still trapped beneath the rubble.
Three injured persons had earlier been taken to the hospital for treatment.
Omega said rescue operations would continue until every section of the debris had been searched.
The three-storey building collapsed near Tonimas Filling Station in the Oko Polytechnic community.
Cries for help were reportedly heard from beneath the debris shortly after the structure caved in.
Emergency responders from the police, fire service and SEMA were deployed to the scene.
Several victims have been rescued and rushed to a hospital in Oko for treatment.
The police spokesperson, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said a joint security team responded swiftly to secure the area.
He appealed to residents to remain calm and avoid spreading unverified information.
The cause of the building collapse has yet to be determined.
Digital Operations Manager at The Students Forum Nigeria.
