Written By Lisa Murimi
A playful story about a lazy lion, penned by Chidera Onovo, 15, is now a poignant memento of a young life cut short. Chidera, described by his mother Blessing Onovo as a caring boy who loved to draw, tragically lost his life in a building collapse at Saints Academy in Jos, Nigeria.
Last Friday, Chidera went to school with his younger sister, Chisom, but only she would return. Official reports state that 22 students died in the collapse, though local residents claim the number is closer to 50.
Parents used their bare hands and shovels to search for survivors until an excavator arrived an hour later. Chidera’s body was found crushed beneath concrete on the first floor.
Victor Dennis, another grieving parent, found his son Emmanuel’s lifeless body at a local morgue the next day. “My boy was a good boy. He didn’t deserve to die,” Dennis told the BBC, tears streaming down his face as mourners sang a farewell hymn at his son’s burial.
The tragedy has sparked outrage in Jos. Residents claim the building shook the day before the collapse, and architect Olusegun Godwin Olukoya from the Nigerian Institute of Architects in Plateau state blames substandard materials and non-adherence to building regulations for the disaster.
The local governor has ordered a structural audit of all schools and public buildings in Plateau state, while investigations are underway to determine if the school’s owner had a construction permit. Additionally, officials suspect nearby mining activities may have contributed to the collapse.
Nigeria’s Housing Minister, Ahmed Dangiwa, condemned the “unscrupulous” actions that led to the tragedy, promising accountability. However, for families like Chidera’s and Emmanuel’s, no words can soothe their immense loss.
Chinecherem Joy Emeka, 13, another victim, was known for her dancing skills and dreamed of becoming a doctor. She was taking her end-of-year exams when the building collapsed. Her mother, Blessing Nwabuchi, cherishes photos from Chinecherem’s junior high graduation as precious reminders of her daughter’s unrealized potential.
