FUNAI Students Share Dramatic Escape from Collapsing Hostel

Students of Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike Ikwo (AE-FUNAI) in Ebonyi State are recounting their terrifying escape after Pentagon Lodge, a private student hostel in Izzangbo Ohankwu Village, partially collapsed following heavy rainfall on Friday.

Though the incident caused major structural damage, no lives were lost—thanks to the alertness and swift response of the students. 

According to eyewitness Chisom Nwankwo, a student of Enugu State University of Technology (ESUT), his brother—a final-year FUNAI student—was bathing when he heard strange sounds outside. Mistaking it for typical student unrest, he ignored it at first. But upon noticing cracks forming on the walls, he jumped from a balcony to safety, escaping unharmed but losing all his belongings including electronics, documents, and furniture. 

Another resident, Chimamanda Ojiego, recalled unusual signs: swollen floor tiles, a jammed door, and cracking sounds. “Someone ran upstairs screaming that the building was about to fall, and we rushed out immediately,” she said. 

Once outside, Ojiego said she saw pillars buckling, windows shattering, and the ground floor sinking, causing the structure to split and lose height. 

Her belongings, too, were buried under the debris. Faith Ozoezi, a 100-level Sociology student, was away at the time but received a call from her roommate warning about the building’s instability. 

“An alarm was raised, and everyone evacuated quickly,” she said, expressing deep relief that no one was hurt. Students believe that Thursday night’s downpour saturated the soil and weakened the foundation, contributing to the collapse. 

In the aftermath, many students are calling for a full investigation and public release of the findings. They urged authorities not to treat the incident lightly, warning that without proper accountability and preventive measures, future disasters could endanger lives.