A three-storey private student hostel, Pentagon Lodge, located in Izzangbo Ohankwu Village, near Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike Ikwo (AE-FUNAI) in Ebonyi State, collapsed after continuous rainfall. Fortunately, there were no casualties.

A section of the building caved in, trapping students’ belongings. Some students experienced minor distress due to the collapse, and it was reported that the building had developed cracks prior to the incident, prompting some students to vacate the premises.

The Ebonyi State Government has sealed the affected lodge and surrounding buildings for integrity tests and ordered the evacuation of all students from the premises. The State Commissioner for Capital City Development, Chief Sunday Ekechi Inyima, directed the property to be sealed and called for an investigation into the structural failure. The Ministry of Capital City Development, the Ministry of Human Capital Development, the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), the Ikwo Local Government Chairman, and the AE-FUNAI management are collaborating to provide temporary accommodation for displaced students.

AE-FUNAI Vice-Chancellor Professor Sunday Elom expressed concern over the increasing number of substandard private buildings constructed without proper supervision. He urged strict enforcement of building regulations and a full-scale investigation into the collapse, calling for anyone found responsible to be held accountable. He assured the affected students of the university’s support and directed them to liaise with the Student Union Government (SUG) and the Dean of Students Affairs for assistance.