– Gov Udom reveals that he helped with rescue operations as church building collapses in Uyo
– The governor says he inside the church when the tragic incident occurred
– Eye witness says the incident occured 30 minutes after the governor’s arrival
Reports have emerged on how Governor Udom Emmanuel escaped unhurt after witnessing the collapse of Reigners Bible Church International building in Uyo on Friday, December 9.
According to an eyewitness, the building collapsed 30 minutes after Governor Udom arrived.
Gov Udom helps with rescue operations as church building collapses in Uyo
The witness told NAN: “When we were about taking offering, 30 minutes after the governor came in, the building caved in. Security operatives took him away.”
Another witness, Uduak Effiong, said that a female victim’s bowel was ripped open by the tragedy.
Effiong, who is a communication arts student of the University of Uyo, said that she lost three friends to the incident.
Just like Governor Udom, Akan Weeks, the founder of the church, was also brought out unhurt.
Reacting to the tragic incident, Governor Udom said he was present at the Reigners Bible Church International when it collapsed.
He noted that he “personally supervised rescue operations and evacuation of the injured to the hospital”.
A press statement signed by Personal Assistant to Governor for Information, Ekerette Udoh, revealed that the government will constitute a high-powered panel of enquiry to “ascertain the immediate and remote factors leading to the collapse of the church building.”
Governor Udom also commiserated with the families of the victims, saying the government will undertake the treatment of the injured.
The statement read: “The Government of Akwa Ibom State has commiserated with the families of the victims of the collapsed building at Reigners Bible Church International 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 evacuation of the injured to the hospital. The state government will undertake the medical treatment of the victims.
“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 re-occurrence of such incident and bring to book persons found to have compromised professional standards in the construction of the building.”
Governor was the special guest of honour at the consecration service of the Founder of the church, Apostle Akan Weeks, as bishop.
The Reigners Bible Church International situated on Uyo Village Road, was still under construction when it collapsed.
It was gathered that its iron rafters caved in as the service was on-going.
Some rescue team members said that over 60 casualties had been removed from the debris.
However, ASP Cordelia Nwawe, Akwa Ibom state police public relation officer, said that she could not confirm the casualty figure since rescue operations were on-going.
She said that security operatives had been drafted to maintain law and order at the scene to prevent hoodlums from cashing in on the situation.
“Rescue team members are trying their best to rescue all the victims trapped inside the collapsed building.
‘’We cannot tell you the exact number of casualties now as the rescue operations are on,’’ she said.
On his part, FRSC’s spokesman in the state, Godsgift Uwen, said officials of the commission were currently at the scene of incident.
When asked the number of casualties resulting from the collapsed building, Uwen said he was not competent to speak on that but ordered Sunday Nation to get the reaction from the Police.
The rescue team at scene is made up of workers of Julius Berger Construction Company, the police, army, Fire Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Nigerian Medical Association and the Federal Road Safety Corps.
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