Panic gripped residents of the Odo-Kekere community in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State on Thursday evening, January 15, 2026, following the sudden collapse of a structure within a local public school in the state

The incident occurred after school hours, a factor that authorities say likely prevented a significant number of casualties.

According to eye witnesses report that a section of the school building gave way late Thursday evening with a thunderous sound that drew neighbors to the scene. First responders from the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) and the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) arrived shortly after to cordoned off the area.

While the full extent of the damage is still being assessed, preliminary reports suggest that no students were in the classrooms at the time of the collapse. Emergency teams are currently conducting a “search and rescue” operation to ensure no security guards or staff members were trapped in the rubble.

A resident Mrs Boluwaji Adirinto, stated that the collapse has sparked outrage among parents and community leaders in Ikorodu, many of whom have long called for the renovation of aging educational infrastructure in the axis.

”We heard a loud crack and then dust everywhere. We thank God it didn’t happen in the morning when the children were in their desks. This is a wake-up call for the government,” said a resident whose house borders the school.

As of press time, the Lagos State Ministry of Education had not issued a formal statement. However, officials from LASBCA had begun an immediate structural integrity test on the remaining buildings within the school premises to determine if they are safe for continued use. (Blueprint, but headline rejigged)