BY: Abdulraheem Muhammed
Claim:
A classroom collapsed on students sitting for the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) at Government Secondary School Namnai, Gassol LGA, Taraba State on May 28, 2025.
Verdict:
True! The Taraba State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education confirmed the incident via an official visit and report. Commissioner Dr. Augustina visited the school on May 29, 2025, and acknowledged the collapse and its impact on WASSCE candidates.
Full Text:
On May 29, 2025, Nigeria Stories posted on its X (formerly Twitter) handle that an examination hall had collapsed at Government Secondary School Namnai, Gassol Local Government Area, Taraba State, affecting students sitting for the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
The post quickly went viral, amassing over 293,000 views, 2,242 reposts, 578 quotes, and 3,701 likes, prompting public concern and further media investigation.
Initial media reports, including one by The Punch, cited community witnesses who confirmed the incident but were unable to reach the State Commissioner of Education at the time for an official response. Additionally, most early reports lacked verified information about the number of students affected or the nature of medical attention provided to the victims.
Verification:
On May 29, 2025, the Taraba State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education issued an official response through its Facebook handle and a press briefing by its Public Relations Officer, Jonathan Jolly. The report confirmed that Dr. Augustina, Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, personally visited the school following the incident.
The Commissioner was received by:
● Mrs. Watsi Danjuma, Principal of GDSS Namnai,
● Mr. Sarga Ugba Godwin, Zonal AIE Officer,
● Mr. Yakubu Dikko, Principal, GDSS Mutum Biyu,
● And other zonal education stakeholders.
The principal provided a detailed briefing on the incident, stating that the collapse was caused by a severe windstorm, which destroyed part of the examination hall while WASSCE candidates were writing their papers. Casualties were reported, though the Ministry has yet to provide public details on injuries or hospital treatment.
The Commissioner’s visit and statements verified the credibility of the original claim. Her presence and the subsequent official communication serve as the most concrete evidence confirming the event.
Conclusion:
The claim that a classroom collapsed on WAEC candidates at Government Secondary School Namnai, Taraba State on May 28, 2025 is true. The incident has been officially acknowledged by the Taraba State Ministry of Education, and the Commissioner has taken steps to assess the damage and support the affected students. Although full casualty details are not yet publicly available, the verification by state authorities confirms the accuracy of the widely circulated report.
