A three-storey building serving as a private hostel for students of the Federal Polytechnic Oko, Anambra State, has collapsed, leaving an unspecified number of occupants feared trapped beneath the rubble.

The incident occurred on Sunday night at Elite Five Star Lodge, located in Amokpala, near Tonimas Filling Station in the Oko Polytechnic community of Orumba North Local Government Area.

Eyewitnesses said panic erupted as the building caved in, with desperate cries for help reportedly heard from beneath the debris while rescue teams rushed to the scene.

Emergency responders, including personnel from the Anambra State Police Command, the Anambra State Fire Service, the Anambra State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), and other security agencies, immediately launched a coordinated rescue operation.

Several victims have already been pulled from the collapsed structure and transported to a hospital in Oko for medical treatment, while efforts continue to locate and rescue others believed to be trapped.

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 operations to minimise further casualties.

Ikenga appealed to residents to remain calm, avoid spreading unverified information, and keep away from the scene to allow emergency personnel unhindered access to carry out rescue operations effectively.

He assured the public that the police command would provide updates as more verified information becomes available.

As of the time of filing this report, authorities had yet to confirm the exact number of casualties, injured persons, or those still trapped beneath the collapsed building, as rescue efforts remained ongoing.