Church building collapse claims one in Asaba

…As fire destroys houses in Ogbomoso • Scores burnt in multiple accidents on Lagos-Ibadan Highway

One person was feared dead on Tuesday evening after a one-storey building under construction, allegedly belonging to the Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Movement in Asaba, the Delta State capital, collapsed.

No less than 1,000 worshippers, including children escaped death narrowly when the incident happened while a programme was ongoing.

It was gathered that the collapsed building, which is located on Rapu lane, Asaba, was being constructed as the regional headquarters of the church. The Guardian gathered that the superimposed uncompleted building crashed atop adjoining building, as worshippers held weekly church activities.

Some residents who gathered at the scene attributed the low casualty, particularly of members, to God’s mercy. They wondered what the carnage would have been like had the building collapsed on Sunday when many members would have been in church.

A senior pastor of the church, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said no life was lost but confirmed that about four persons who were working on the building sustained minor injuries. He said the injured persons were rushed to the hospital where they are receiving treatment while some were discharged after treatment.

When asked of the possible reason for the building collapse, the presiding pastor said: “I am new in this place, I was posted here a few weeks ago, I met the building on ground, but from my observation, there are structural challenges, which we are trying to handle.”

It was, however, gathered that the senior pastor and other leaders of the church were invited by the police for questioning over the collapsed building but were allowed go after interrogation.

The Delta State Police Command image-maker, Superintendent of Police (SP) Celestina Kalu, when contacted confirmed that one person died after five persons were rescued from the ruins of the collapsed building.

Tragedy also struck in Idi Oro area of Ogbomoso, Oyo State yesterday as fire ravaged the community, resulting in loss of property and valuables estimated at millions of naira. The fire, which occurred in the early hours of the morning completely razed a church building, seven houses, vehicles and other valuables.

The fire occurred when a tanker fully loaded with Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) lost control and rammed into one of the houses, igniting fire in the process.

Victims, who fought back tears, pleaded with the government to come to their aid. One of the affected persons, who identified himself as Segun, said he lost everything to the inferno.

He said: “I was not at home when the fire started but was alerted by neighbours. By the time I rushed to the scene, all I laboured for had gone. I could not salvage anything.”

Meanwhile, the Chairman, Senate committee on Information Communication Technology and Cybercrime, Senator Fatai Buhari has commiserated with victims of the fire incident.

Senator Buhari, representing Oyo North Senatorial district, in a statement said the incident was quite unfortunate and prayed God to restore their loss. “I was shocked when I saw the extent of the damage done by the inferno but thank God no life was lost,” the lawmaker said.

Scores were burnt beyond recognition in a multiple accident, which occurred on Lagos-Ibadan expressway between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.

According to the spokesperson of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Oyo State, Tunde Onijala, the accident involved a Mack truck and an Ibadan-bound commercial bus with registration number Lagos AGL 866 XA on the one hand, and two commercial buses in another accident.