A church building has collapsed in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, with many feared
dead.
The Reigners Bible Church, located along Village Road, was filled to
capacity because its pastor was being consecrated as a Bishop, when the
tragedy occurred, witnesses said.
“Pastor Akan Week was being consecrated today so the programme was holding
inside the Church when suddenly, the whole building collapsed,” one
witness said.
The witness said the Church was being renovated and upgraded because of
the expected high number of guests on Saturday.
“Many people are buried under the debris as emergency workers continue
rescue exercise,” he said.
Governor Udom Emmanuel was expected to attend the occasion, but, sources
said he was not at the church when it collapsed.
“The governor has gone to the scene and is presently there helping with
the rescue,” a witness said.
Our sources said many victims have been taken to various hospitals and
mortuaries in the town.
A source at one of the hospitals, Premier Hospital, said many of the
injured were taken there and were receiving medical attention.
A police spokesperson who sounded emotional when contacted by phone, said
she could not speak on the matter immediately.
“You need to be here to witness it, there is so much confusion,” she
simply said.