The Akwa Ibom State governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, was whisked out of the Reigners International Church by his security personnel when the building collapsed, killing at least 90 worshipers with scores trapped in the rubble.
A Punch correspondent learnt that the governor was attending the consecration of Pastor Akan Weeks as a Bishop on Saturday, when the church building collapsed.
The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Murtala Mani, who confirmed the incident, said he could not ascertain the number of those dead or trapped in the building.
“I don’t know how many people have died from the collapsed building or those trapped,” he said.
The Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Etekamba Umoren, was said to have sustained an injury and was taken to an undisclosed hospital in the state.
It was also gathered that the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ekerette Udoh was also injured in the tragedy.
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.
He said, “We only lost one person in the hospital except those that were brought dead. In circumstances like this, we have been overwhelmed. We need help from government.
“Many victims are in private hospitals and mortuaries scattered all over Uyo metropolis; we can’t really tell how many people have died so far. We have over 200 persons in the mortuaries. We do not have space as people are still being brought in.’’
“We have done our best to revive some victims. Right now, we have over 50 cases we are attending to. This is the first time we are witnessing such an incident.’’
At St. Athanasius Hospital Limited, a nurse told our correspondent that one person was brought to the hospital dead but the relatives were asked to take the corpse away.
In its reaction, the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria said it shared in the pain of the leadership and members of the church.
In a statement by its state Chairman, Dr. Sylvanus Ukafia, the association urged all Pentecostal churches in the state and in Nigeria to hold special prayers for the church on Sunday (today).
It added, “All churches should take special offerings for the medical assistance of all those injured and send same to the Reigners’ Bible Church. Church members who can are also urged to donate blood, where necessary, to those in the hospital and make other donations as may be required in the course of the treatment of those injured.’’
In its reaction, the state government said a panel of enquiry would be constituted to ascertain the immediate and remote factors leading to the collapse of the church building with a view to forestall a reoccurrence.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary also noted that persons found to have compromised professional standards in the construction of the building would be sanctioned.
It added, ‘‘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 evacuation of the injured to the hospital. The state government will undertake the medical treatment of the victims.’’
Meanwhile, 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.
