Governor Udom Emmanuel was among thousands of worshippers who escaped death when the roof of a crowded the Reigners Bible Church International collapsed.
Meanwhile, at least 60 people were confirmed dead after the tragedy at the church located in Uyo, Akwa Ibom on Saturday.
Over 100 persons including Governor Emmanuel’s Aide de Camp, DSP Abimiko Linus, the Commissioner for Information Mr. Charles Udoh, Co-ordinator of his campaign organisation, Andrew Uwanta and the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Ekerete Udoh, sustained life-threatening injuries.
The governor who was saved from sustaining due to the heroics of his aide-de-camp, Linus, who got injured in his stead was attending the Bishopric Enthronement of the church’s founder, Apostle Akan Weeks, when the disaster occurred.
Hundreds of people, were inside when metal girders crashed onto worshippers and the corrugated iron roof caved in, they said. Weeks, who preached that God will make his followers rich, escaped unhurt.
Naijalog recalls that in 2014, 116 people died when a multi-story guesthouse of the Synagogue Church of All Nations collapsed in Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial capital. Most victims were visiting South African followers of the megachurch’s influential founder T. B. Joshua.
Two structural engineers, Joshua and church trustees have been accused of criminal negligence and involuntary manslaughter after a coroner found the building collapsed from structural failures caused by design and detailing errors.
But Lagos state government efforts to bring them to court have been foiled by repeated legal challenges that have delayed a trial.
However, the Akwa Ibom Governor’s spokesman, Ekerete Udoh, has said the state government will hold an inquiry to investigate if anyone compromised building standards.
Very sad incident in uyo
yesterday, God save
the governor for
narrowly escaping dead.