NIGERIA. Delta State: Three worshipers, mostly children have been confirmed dead after a Church storey building belonging to Salvation Ministries in Okpanam, Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State collapsed while worshippers were present inside to worship. Delta State Police Public Relation Officer, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Bright Efade confirmed this to newsmen.
Efade added that the 10-year-old building was originally designed as a plaza before the Salvation Ministries moved in to occupy the upper floor which was under renovation at the time of the incident.
The alleged 10-year-old building is said to be belonging to Pastor David Ibiyeomie of Salvation Ministries.
A rescue team led by the Secretary to the State Government, Chief Patrick Ukah, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr Ononye Mordi, Red Cross officers and firefighters were all present at the scene of the incident.
However, as at the time of filing this report, the search was still ongoing and family members of affected persons were seen weeping over the tragic incident. The report also has it that many were yet trapped inside the building.
The church is currently observing its New Year 21 day fasting, but members of the church came to break the day fasting in the Church, a Church member said.
In November 2021, a 21 storey building was said to have collapsed in Lagos State which led to the death of about 44 persons. This and many incidents in Nigeria in 2021 are attributed to the usage of substandard building materials, and negligence of the engineers.
The issue of building collapse has been a regular occurrence in Nigeria and experts have called for proper measures to be put in place to curtail the future occurrence of such human losses.
