Church Building Collapses In Edo

One person has died under the rubble of a building that collapsed in Benin, Edo State capital, on Friday, 19 September, 2014.
According to the Nation report, the collapsed one-storey building located at 22, First Uzama Street, Off Oliha Quartres in Benin belongs to Christ Chosen Church of God. The incident occurred at about 12.45pm on Friday.
According to the Edo State Commissioner of Police, Foluso Adebanjo, one person has been confirmed dead while five others were rescued alive with injuries. He said there were however speculations that two more people were still be trapped in the rubbles.

The ruins of Christ Chosen Church God after collapse

“One is unfortunately dead. Though there are rumours that we still have two people there; of course, there is absolute calm for now,” Mr. Adebanjo said.

It was gathered that the building, before it collapsed, served as offices to pastors in the church. However, the church management hired youths to demolish it because they wanted more space in the compound.
According to one of the workmen who survived, four out of nine people were inside the building when it collapsed.

The ruins of Christ Chosen Church God after collapse

“Some of us went out to eat because we were hungry. As we were eating, we saw many people rush to where we were coming from. We thought it was a fire outbreak. But when we got there, we discovered that the building has collapsed.

“We were nine in number but four of my colleagues were in the building before it collapsed. Two were brought out alive with injuries. One died and was brought out and two others are still under the building, dead,” the worker said.
Reportedly, officials of the church ran away after the building came down.
The residents blamed the church management for using young people to destroy the church instead of hiring a bulldozer.

Rescuers bring out an injured survivor

The collapse of the building almost resulted in chaos as some angry youth vandalized and set ablaze a bus owned by the church in protest of the incident.

Church vehicle set ablaze by angry residents

It would be recalled that a building at the Synagogue Church Of All Nations, SCOAN, in Ikotun area of Lagos also collapsed on Friday, 12 September, 2014.
According to the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, at least 80 people died from the collapsed building believed to be a guest house of the Synagogue Church.