A three-storey private student hostel, Pentagon Lodge, located in Izzangbo Ohankwu Village near the Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike Ikwo (AE-FUNAI), Ebonyi State, has collapsed following continuous rainfall.
Fortunately, no lives were lost in the incident.
Sources at the scene confirmed that a section of the building caved in, trapping students’ belongings under the rubble.
While no serious injuries were reported, some students experienced minor distress due to the sudden collapse.
In response to the incident, the Ebonyi State Government sealed off the affected lodge and surrounding buildings, pending structural integrity tests. Authorities also ordered the immediate evacuation of all students residing in the premises to prevent further risk.
The State Commissioner for Capital City Development, Chief Sunday Ekechi Inyima, who led a government delegation to the site, directed that the property be sealed and called for urgent investigations into the cause of the collapse.
Inyima stated that the Ministry of Capital City Development, the Ministry of Human Capital Development, the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), the Ikwo Local Government Council, and the AE-FUNAI management are working jointly to provide temporary accommodation for the displaced students while structural assessments are underway.
The Vice-Chancellor of AE-FUNAI, Professor Sunday Elom, expressed deep concern over the growing prevalence of substandard private buildings being erected without adequate supervision.
“This unfortunate incident underscores the urgent need for strict enforcement of building regulations to ensure that only properly designed and supervised structures are approved for occupation, especially those housing students,” Elom said.
He commended the swift intervention of the state government and thanked God that no lives were lost.
He also sympathised with the affected students and expressed concern for the properties lost in the debris.
Professor Elom urged the Ebonyi State Government to initiate a comprehensive investigation into the incident, stressing that anyone found culpable, whether regulators, contractors, or engineers must be held accountable to avoid future tragedies.
He further assured the affected students of the university’s full support and instructed them to coordinate with the Student Union Government (SUG) and the Dean of Students Affairs for proper documentation and immediate relief.
Residents of nearby buildings have also been advised to remain cautious.
