The female victim was identified by friends as Vivian Chinedum, a baker and a fresh graduate of the Department of Food Science and Technology, Federal Polytechnic, Oko.
According to Anambra State Broadcasting Service (ABS) friends said Vivian moved into the hostel in March 2026.
Recounting the moments leading to the collapse, some occupants of the building, who are also students of Federal Polytechnic, Oko, said there were warning signs before the tragedy.
One of the survivors, Grace Nweke, explained that at about 10 p.m. on Sunday, July 26, 2026, a food vendor in the building alerted residents through their WhatsApp group that the walls of the hostel were cracking.
She said that before many of the occupants could fully grasp the seriousness of the warning, they heard loud cracking sounds and immediately fled for safety.
Grace, who moved into the hostel in January 2026, said she had no idea the building was structurally unsafe until the incident occurred.
She added that they later learnt that the previous occupants had allegedly been directed to vacate the building because of its deteriorating condition.
However, the caretaker reportedly went ahead to rent the premises to unsuspecting students.
Reacting to the incident, the Deputy Director of the Anambra State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Ndidi Omega, described the collapse as unfortunate and avoidable.
She stressed the need for relevant authorities to ensure that any building declared unsafe or marked for demolition remains unoccupied.
