Dozens of students sitting for the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) narrowly escaped death on Wednesday evening after classroom structures at Government Secondary School, Namnai, in Gassol Local Government Area of Taraba State collapsed during a torrential downpour accompanied by a windstorm.
The incident, which occurred around 6pm, reportedly left several students, teachers, corps members, and external supervisors trapped beneath the rubble. The victims were rescued by local residents who responded swiftly to the emergency.
According to eyewitnesses, the rainstorm struck shortly after the second batch of students began their examination. The first group had completed their papers and left the premises before the disaster struck.
“It was the second batch of students still writing their exams that got trapped. The first set had already finished and left,” said Alhaji DanAzumi Lauris, a resident of Namnai. “The rain came suddenly with strong winds, and the old classroom structures couldn’t withstand it.”
Several students sustained various injuries, including fractures to their limbs, and are currently receiving treatment at a nearby Primary Healthcare Centre in the town. No fatalities have been reported at the time of this report.
Beyond the school premises, the windstorm reportedly destroyed multiple homes in the community, leaving residents counting their losses.
In a related development, students in Jalingo, the Taraba State capital, were also affected by the extreme weather. Some candidates were stranded at their exam centres until after 1am, as the heavy rainfall made movement impossible.
Sources also disclosed that a delay in the delivery of WAEC question papers contributed to the chaos, with some centres reportedly receiving papers as late as 8pm.
Efforts to reach the Commissioner for Basic Education, Dr. Augustina Godwin, for official comments were unsuccessful, as her phone line was not reachable at the time of filing this report.
The incident has raised fresh concerns over the state of infrastructure in public schools across the state, particularly as the rainy season intensifies.
