Church building collapses, kills pregnant woman, five others in On
A Cherubim and Seraphim Church under construction in Ija-Ugbo area of Arogbo Ijaw in Ese Odo Local Government of Ondo State has collapsed and killed a pregnant woman and five others.
The incident which occurred around 10:am on Tuesday (today) also caused high degrees of injuries on four other persons.
It was learnt that the building collapsed on the victims while fetching fire wood from the Church site, where renovation and construction was still ongoing.
It was gathered that the casual workers handling the construction had vacated the site a long time ago after extending the building to accomodate large worshipers.
According to an eyewitness, the six people were killed instantly as soon as the building suddenly collapsed on them.
The eyewitness blamed the incident on the use of fake materials, adding that the ugly incident was the first in the community.
He said the incident was reported to the traditional ruler of Arogbo Ijaw, the Regent of Arogbo, Amos Sofiyea who immediately visited the scene of the incident and had since commiserated with the family of the deceased.
An Information Officer with Ese-Odo local government, Monday Konwei, who also confirmed the incident said “the victims were in the church premises to gather firewood which was used in the church building before part of the dilapidated old structure and the one under construction fell on them and killed six of them.”
The Chairman of the council Caretaker Committee, Bekewe Olowu also confirmed the incident, describing it as shocking and devastating
Confirming the incident,
the State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Femi Joseph, described the incident as sad and unfortunate.
Joseph who said only five people lost their lives in the incident, explained that the people were killed while struggling for the used wood at the site of the building.
He said “a renovation was going on in one of the churches in the area, they are trying to build a bigger church and while trying to demolish the old one after building the new one, the building collapsed while people were struggling for wood.
“Five people were killed on the spot while four others were seriously injured and rushed to a nearby hospital for medical attention.”
Joseph, however, said the death of the five people could be avoided but said “the people were in hurry to fetch the wood saying they should have allow the bricklayer to finish their work before invading the building.”
He said the command had begun investigation into the incident.
(Daily Post)
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