By Obinna Uballa
A dramatic escape unfolded on Monday, March 9, 2026, when a four-storey school building housing Yemco Nursery, Primary and Comprehensive College collapsed in the Aguda area of Ogba, Lagos State. The building, located at 11 Adudatu Street behind County Hospital, caved in around 11 a.m., but, fortunately, no deaths were reported.
Eyewitnesses said residents noticed cracks on the school walls minutes before the collapse and immediately raised the alarm, prompting staff to evacuate students in a matter of minutes.
A video circulating on social media shows students and teachers reacting quickly, moving out of the building seconds before it gave way.
Some students sustained injuries in the ensuing rush and stampede during the evacuation and were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment.
Femi Aderoju, a local resident, described the tense moments leading up to the collapse. “A fashion designer with a shop near the street noticed a sudden crack in the school wall and raised the alarm. We joined him to ensure the teachers evacuated the students quickly. The evacuation took just five to seven minutes,” he said.
Another resident, Dada Philips, explained how the panic contributed to injuries: “The students were not prepared for an emergency. In their rush to get out, they started climbing on one another, and some got seriously hurt. Parents who were alerted rushed to the scene and took their children to the hospital.”
School staff confirmed that a headcount was conducted to ensure no student remained inside. “Shortly after moving them out, we made sure everyone was accounted for. Some of us didn’t even remember to pick up our belongings; the children’s safety was our priority,” said an official who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Residents reported that renovation work on the ground floor of the building may have contributed to the collapse. Ajibola Salami, another neighbor, said, “The building never showed signs of distress before, but ongoing renovation on the ground floor might have caused the crack that led to the collapse. Construction workers were on site before it happened.”
Authorities responded promptly, with officials from the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), security operatives, and the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps arriving at the scene. LASBCA officials later ordered residents of an adjacent two-storey building to evacuate and sealed off the premises for safety.
Residents described the scene as chaotic, with dust clouds filling the street and parents rushing to ensure the safety of their children. “I initially thought a truck had hit our transformer, but then I saw dust and people running,” said Folake, a local resident.
