Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel has commiserated with the families of victims of collapsed building at Reigners’ Bible Church in Uyo, the State capital yesterday.
The Governor, who was among the worshipers at a special enthronement service of the founder as Bishop, Apostle Akan Weeks was visibly shocked, after he escaped death by the whiskers, while more than 80 persons at Press time were reported death.
The Church ceremony was also attended by high profile government officials and political class. Meanwhile, rescue operations were ongoing even as the state government has set up a panel of enquiry to investigate the cause of the incident.
A statement issued signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Ekerete Udoh and made available to newsmen said, the Governor has appealed for calm and prayers for the injured as the situation is being reviewed.
The statement reads, ‘‘Government of Akwa Ibom State wishes to commiserate with the families of those affected by the collapse this afternoon, of a church building along Uyo Village road.
‘His Excellency, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Udom Emmanuel was present at the church service during the incident and thereafter personally supervised rescue operations and the evacuation of the injured to the hospital. He has directed that the full resources of the State Government be made available for the treatment of those who were injured in the unfortunate incident.
‘‘A high-powered panel of enquiry is being constituted to ascertain the immediate and remote factors leading to the collapse of the church building with a view to forestall the reoccurrence of any such incident and bring to book any persons found to have compromised professional standards in the construction of the building.
‘‘In the meantime, The Government of Akwa Ibom State is appealing to all citizens of the state to remain calm and pray for those injured while avoiding undue speculation as the situation is being given the best possible attention’’.
More than 50 corpses have so far been deposited at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital morgue as rescue operations led by the Commissioner for Works, Mr. Ephraim Iynang-eyen was still on .
Clergies billed to attend the bishopric ordination of the founder and presiding Pastor were; Port-Harcourt based Pentecostal preacher Apostle Zilly Aggrey, Apostle Tim Gbasha, Bishop Mike Laju, Bishop Yomi Isijiola and Bishop Elijah Mboho amongst others.
from Vanguard
*I just went through an email that left me in shock...the mangled bodies from the collapse that was sent to me by a BV who was supposed to attended but didnt.She lost her friend when the building came down...
OMG..I dont even wish this on anyone...OH GOSH....
This is so sad. May God comfort the families of the dead.
ReplyDeleteLucky Governor, I hope this brings you closer to God.
This ugly incident was 100percent avoidable. This is why I kinda put a clause a very sickening clause on the order of Christianity today. The owner of this church knew quite well that the tensile strength of the metals used as the skeleton of this church will not and CANNOT withstand the crowd that was coming for this ceremony. This is a fact, they tried to do some shoddy renovations last last and then left the lives of these innocent people to FATE.
DeleteThe metal was weak, the church took in a capacity that is 50 times more than what it can carry, during the worship people were singing, dancing and clapping putting further pressure on the metals, the structure had to bend to the side that carried more weight and caved in. The weight I am talking about is not just the people sitting on the floor of the hall, those ones that were packed upstairs, ie all around the center were the chief cause of this disaster. The metals were originally made to hold the roof, ie the canopy but due to the way we manage everything in this country they decided to make setting arrangements up there in layers without doing any quality assessment.
Look at the number of people that lost their lives, Stella, as at evening yesterday, the death toll was approaching 200, this is almost like a plane crash. This is totally avoidable, more people are dying and are in critical care in the hospital. I know what I am saying, the death toll now would have reached 200. I don't blame the sick idiots, they won't count children as number of people that died afterall, they are not human beings. The people responsible will go Scott free. That I am sure.
When they will use metal like MTN mast to sit 5thousand people. Something that won't carry 5 overhead tanks. This country is useless and people are even telling murderers sorry for the incident. Instead if rescuing them from the collapse and straight to police custody.
DeleteHmmmmmm! This is saddening.
ReplyDeleteMay God grant peace to the dead and comfort to the bereaved.
Quick recovery to the injured.
So sad!! See how 2016 took so much people. I read that the dead is 200 not 80 in punch and vanguard. May all their souls rest in peace.
ReplyDeleteRip to the fallen
ReplyDeleteNo matter what you do,or how u refuse to enable my comment I will not get angry aunty Stella
Anonymous rant,u refused to enable my comment bcos u feel I don't need help...thanks
All this will lead to a greater testimony soon on this same blog you re trying to make me feel that am not needed here
So so sad. May the departed RIP
ReplyDelete#My case is different
May their souls rest in peace. Chai, please don't the pictures. They are too graphic.
DeleteOmg...the sight oh no! What could have caused it. Rip to the dead
ReplyDeleteSo sad... RIP to the dead. God please protect us wherever we go
ReplyDeleteRIP to the dead.
ReplyDeleteMisplaced priority on Bishop ordination, to consecrate a bishop costs millions of Naira that money can be used to provide basic amenities and infrastructure for some communities.
Its not by your title in Church that guarantees automatic ticket to heaven but rather the intent of your heart and the work of ur hands.
On the building structure; most of this churches don't employ Engineers and Architects in order to save cost.
I remember vividly my sales/marketing encounter with Tom Samson( the Camoflague wearing self acclaimed religious leader). He said it that he dosent give Companies, Contractors or Engineers job that he goes to Orile to buy materials and source for Labourers, in turn supervise the project from scratch to finish.
Your guess is as good as mine. That's another disaster waiting to happen Cus what does he know on building structure and what it entails.
Until a scape goat is made to pay once, things like this will continue to recur.
These people won't give caesar what belongs to him. Becoming a pastor means automatic Engineer and autodoctor amongst others. It is time for Nigerians to open their eyez and see. All the dignitaries were unhurt because they will be at the safest spot securitywise. We don't think. They believe that since its a church,even if you use broomstick to build,it will become steel and skyscraper foundation once they do praise and worship or kabash well. Nonsense!
DeleteRIP to the dead.
ReplyDeleteMisplaced priority on Bishop ordination, to consecrate a bishop costs millions of Naira that money can be used to provide basic amenities and infrastructure for some communities.
Its not by your title in Church that guarantees automatic ticket to heaven but rather the intent of your heart and the work of ur hands.
On the building structure; most of this churches don't employ Engineers and Architects in order to save cost.
I remember vividly my sales/marketing encounter with Tom Samson( the Camoflague wearing self acclaimed religious leader). He said it that he dosent give Companies, Contractors or Engineers job that he goes to Orile to buy materials and source for Labourers, in turn supervise the project from scratch to finish.
Your guess is as good as mine. That's another disaster waiting to happen Cus what does he know on building structure and what it entails.
Until a scape goat is made to pay once, things like this will continue to recur.
RIP to d dead
ReplyDeleteMay God have mercy..
ReplyDeleteThank God for your life.
ReplyDeleteThank God for the survivors
ReplyDeleteR.I.P to the dead
Mabasi,I have been so sad since yesterday...When I say sad,I mean really sad...
ReplyDeleteI bless God for the life of my Uncle and the wife,they stay at @Akpakpan street and that street is just a stone thrown to the Church....And My Uncles' wife said,she would have attended the church ⛪ programme but she was having leg pain...Because she sometimes suffers from Arthritis
I am so sad 😢.....Because it could have been my uncle and family.
I commensurate with the families that lost their loved ones..
It is sad
@Galore
You just feel like using the word "stone throw" abi? Because from Akpakan street to uyo village road ain't a stone throw madam!
DeleteSo Akpakpan street is now close to Uyo village road😦😦😦
DeleteSuch a sad one
ReplyDeleteRip to dem.
ReplyDeleteAs d year is coming to an end we shall not mourn over any of our family.
Hmmm
ReplyDeleteuwa
adioge
may Their soul rest in peace
We shall not lose any of our loved ones this year in Jesus name Amen!God help us all
ReplyDeleteSo sad,please God let ur mercy prevail in our life.Rip to the dead and quick recovery to the injured.
ReplyDeleteVery sad story,may God comfort the family!
ReplyDeleteSooo sad
ReplyDeleteRIP
too bad
ReplyDeleteRIP
So sad! May their souls rest in peace. Amen.
ReplyDeleteThis statement cant be from akwaibom state govt. The governor was not in church. Stella verify your stories.
ReplyDeleteIt's really scary. See how we were making calls yesterday and shaking. GOD please I know I'm not perfect but FATHER please continue to protect me and my own. In JESUS name. Amen.
ReplyDeleteThis is sad,may their souls rest in perfect peace
ReplyDeleteThis is really sad!!may the souls of the departed RIP!! Let's just be thankful for life no matter the situation we find ourselves in.
ReplyDeleteRIP to the dead. Read that they hurriedly completed the building towards this ceremony. Why couldn't the date be extended instead. God knows best anyway. This is so sad.
ReplyDeleteAnd that's how everything is just ended without anything really being done. Naija ppl, I tell you. Smh. Majority of comments are simply "May God grant....", "God knows best". Meanwhile, things such as this tragedy will continue to happen bc noone wants get to the root of the problem and FIX it! This mess was avoidable and the fact that the Governor graced the event and didn't for once take into consideration the shoddy and reckless work that the "contractors" did before he stepped into the venue is despicable. All the lives lost all because a pastor wanted to receive a title as Bishop sooner than later.....smdh I can't. ...
DeleteSPEECHLESS. May the good Lord grant their souls internal rest. It puzzles me how the Bishop and other dignitaries managed to escape (leaves me thinking). May God have mercy.
ReplyDelete