At least 100 persons died when a church building collapsed today in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital as hundreds of people gathered for the ordination of the founder of the church who was to be ordained a bishop. Several others sustained various degrees of injury.
According to eyewitnesses, the number of people killed in the incident is likely to rise as several ambulances have been conveying dead people to various hospitals in the state capital.
The police however said the exact number of people that died in the incident could not be immediately ascertained as rescue operations were still on-going.
Governor Udom Emmanuel who was the special guest of honour escaped death but it was gathered that other top government officials who accompanied the governor were injured.
Reigners Bible church was undergoing expansion with scaffold and beams raised for a new roofing facility while the church itself is located within a swampy terrain.
Confirming the incident, police public relations office, Akwa Ibom state command, Cordelier Nawe said though governor Udom Emmanuel was in the church at the time of the incident, he was not injured when the building came down.
“I can confirm that Governor Udom Emmanuel is in good health, he is sound and is injured whatsoever in the incident,’’ she said.
She declined to say what might have caused the building to collapse saying “I am not a builder.”
Meanwhile the state government has pledged to take care of the medical bills of the injured while commiserating with the families of the victims.
A statement by the chief press secretary to the governor, Ekerette Udoh said the state government would set up a high powered panel of enquiry to find out the reason leading to the collapse of the building.
It appealed to the people to remain calm and avoid undue speculation as the situation is being given the best position attention.
Meanwhile, the state branch of the Nigerian Medial Association (NMA) has appealed for voluntary blood donation to assist the injured.
According to Aniekeme Uwah, the chairman of NMA, it is the duty to response to the mass casualty and to save lives adding that a coordinator has been appointed by the association to oversee the exercise.
Meanwhile, the police have cordoned off the access road to the collapsed church as thousands of people continued to troop the venue of the incident which is located along Uyo village road.
