Nigeria: Many Feared Dead After Church Collapses

By Chiemelie Ezeobi and Chinaze Megbolu

Disaster struck yesterday at the headquarters of the popular pastor TB Joshua's Synagogue of All Nation Church in Ikotun, a Lagos suburb when a six-storey building under re-construction in the premises collapsed at about 1pm, killing 15 members.

Located behind the main structure, the collapsed building was identified as the Guest House section of the sprawling compound housing the SCOAN headquarters.

According to reports, the structure was already in existence before the church decided to add two more floors to it, an action emergency responders blamed for the collapse of the entire building. According to an eyewitness, re-construction was on going in the building situated near the church's main auditorium when a thunderous explosion was heard, thus burying the construction workers, said to be about 65 underneath its rubbles.

According to the coordinator of Building Collapse Prevention Guild (BCPG), Mrs. Adekemi Ogusaga the collapsed building was already in use with an eatery on the first floor while the remaining five floors served as guest house.

Ogusaga, who coordinates BCPG's activities in Igando/Ikotun areas said: "We suspect they want to cover up the whole thing, particularly when nobody could get pass the gate and high fence. A policeman came to where I was and asked for the owner of the vehicle and I said it was mine and he asked me to move."

As at press time, several other members and construction workers were still buried under the rubbles of the building while rescue workers were battling to save them.

Those rescued, with varying degrees of injuries are recuperating at Isolo and Gbagada General hospitals. 18 persons including three children have so far been rescued.

Sources said those still trapped under the debris included foreigners, the kitchen staff and some of the construction workers.

It was gathered that some of the victims who were rushed to nearby hospitals were rejected because of the fear of the Ebola Virus Disease. As a result, they were re-directed to both the Isolo and Gbagada General hospitals.

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Nigeria: Many Feared Dead After Church Collapses