Several students were injured on the evening of Wednesday, May 28, 2025, when portions of Government Secondary School, Namnai, in Gassol Local Government Area of Taraba State collapsed during the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WAEC).
The incident occurred around 6 p.m., during a heavy downpour accompanied by strong winds. According to sources, the classrooms affected were occupied by the second batch of students who had just begun their exams. The first group had completed their papers and left the school premises before the storm hit.
The collapse happened suddenly, as the aging school buildings, unable to withstand the force of the windstorm, gave way. Students, teachers, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members, and exam supervisors were caught inside. Local residents quickly responded to the emergency, helping to pull trapped students and staff from the rubble.
Several students sustained injuries ranging from cuts and bruises to bone fractures. The most seriously injured were promptly taken to a nearby primary healthcare centre for medical attention. No fatalities have been reported so far.
Residents also reported that the storm caused widespread damage beyond the school compound. Several homes in the Namnai community were either damaged or destroyed by the windstorm, leaving many families to cope with the aftermath.
In a related development, the state capital Jalingo experienced heavy rainfall that caused significant disruptions to WAEC examinations. Some exam centres received question papers late, forcing students to start their exams as late as 8 p.m. Flooding and poor road conditions prevented many students from returning home, with some stranded at their exam venues until after 1 a.m.
Parents and school officials expressed concern over the safety of students and the strain the delays placed on candidates already under pressure. There have been calls for a review of infrastructure and emergency plans in schools hosting national exams to avoid similar incidents.
As of press time, neither the Taraba State Ministry of Education nor the West African Examinations Council had issued a statement regarding the extent of the damage or any adjustments to the examination schedule.
