President
Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday congratulated Emmanuel, and his family on their
lucky escape from the collapse of the building of the Reigners Bible
Church, Uyo.
The
President through a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and
Publicity, Garba Shehu, also conveyed to the governor and the people of the
state, the deep sorrow of his family, the government and the entire people of
Nigeria over the many deaths and injury recorded following the incident.
Mr.
Udom Emmanuel, narrowly escaped death on Saturday as the building of Reigners’
Bible Church Int’l Inc, along Uyo Village Road, Uyo, the state capital,
collapsed during service.
The
incident left about 200 worshippers dead. Sources said it took the efforts of
the governor’s security officers to whisk him away to safety. He was said to
have sustained a minor injury.
It was learnt that the
governor was in the church attending the ordination of the church’s Presiding
Pastor, Bishop Elect Akan Weeks, when the building gave way few minutes before
offering period.
One
of the aides, who rescued the governor, was said to have died at a nearby
hospital where he was rushed to.
A
security officer, who did not want to be named, said many dignitaries who
accompanied the governor to the church also died.
It
was gathered that the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Etekamba Umoren,
also shattered his head in the incident. He was said to have been taken to an
undisclosed hospital in the state.
Also
wounded was the Chief
Press Secretary to the Governor, Ekerette Udoh.
It
was gathered that construction works on a section where the ordination held
were rushed because of Saturday’s event. The church has an estimated
10,000-seater capacity. Two cranes belonging to construction giant, Julius
Berger, were used to clear the debris.
A
clash was averted between the police and some residents as the latter tried to
calm frayed nerves.
The
state Commissioner for Works, Ephraim Inyang, refused to speak with journalists
when he was approached. He ordered them to leave the place.
Mrs.
Yenime Ekpo, who is a mother to one of the victims, Tony Brown, 46 with six
children, said they were worshiping in the church when the building collapsed.
She
stated that Brown was trapped in the rubble for many hours along with others
before she was rescued.
Saying
she was unsure of her son’s survival, Ekpo noted that they were not members of
the church but only went to witness the ordination.
Also,
a student of the University of Uyo, Department of Communication Arts, Uduak
Effiong, said she lost three of her course mates to the incident.
She
stated that when the building collapsed, a pillar fell upon a woman and tore
her body.
She
said, “I saw over 100 dead bodies. These were the ones close to me. From my
estimation, more than 300 people might have died as people came from other
churches in all parts of the state, including government-sponsored praised
singers with uniforms to attend the programme. For some of us that escaped, we
only did by the special grace of God.”
Another
student of the University of Uyo, Jennifer Thomas, said that one of her
friends, Blessing Linus, was trapped in the debris.
It
was learnt that the iron used in holding the roofing sheet was twice heavier
than the block used for the building. Security operatives cordoned the area and
denied journalists access.
The
state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Murtala Mani, who said he could not ascertain
the number of those dead or those trapped in the building, expressed sadness
over the development.
He
said, ‘‘I am sorry about the entire situation.’’
The
Chief Medical Director of the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Prof. Etete
Peters, said of the 50 cases treated in the treatment, only one person died.
He
said about 200 persons were brought to the hospital dead, adding that the
hospital had never prepared for such an emergency.
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