A rescue operation is ongoing after a three storey private hostel, Elite Five Star Lodge, collapsed on Sunday night in Amokpala, near the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, in Orumba North Local Government Area, Anambra State.

The building, located beside Tonimas Filling Station and occupied mainly by students of the Polytechnic, reportedly caved in at about 11 PM, trapping an unspecified number of occupants beneath the rubble and sparking panic among residents and students in the area.

Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said a police led joint security team swiftly secured the area and coordinated emergency response efforts to prevent further loss of life. "On receipt of the distress report, the police, in collaboration with other security agencies, immediately mobilised to the scene, secured the area to prevent further danger and coordinated rescue efforts," he stated.

Personnel from the Anambra State Fire Service, the Anambra State Emergency Management Agency and other security and emergency agencies have been deployed to the site, working to clear debris and reach anyone who may still be trapped.

As of the time of filing this report, three victims have been rescued alive and taken to St Michael Hospital, Oko, where they are receiving medical attention. Some reports indicate that bodies recovered from the scene have been deposited in a mortuary, although authorities have yet to officially confirm the number of casualties, injured persons, or those still trapped as rescue operations continue.

Eyewitnesses said residents rushed to the scene after hearing a loud crashing sound, with cries reportedly heard from beneath the debris. The Polytechnic was said not to be in full academic session at the time of the collapse, and the cause of the incident has not yet been established.

Ikenga urged residents to remain calm, refrain from spreading unverified information, and stay away from the affected area to allow rescue workers unhindered access to carry out their operations.