Uyo church collapse: Survivors recount horrific experience

Survivors of Reigners Bible Church International which collapsed on Saturday,December 10, in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom state, have recounted their experience, saying they escaped by the grace of God.

The building collapsed during a service, killing many worshippers and leaving several others injured.

Some of the victims are currently receiving treatment at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH).

Thompson Emmanuel, 32, one of the victims said he could not understand why the building collapsed on worshippers.

READ ALSO: Uyo church collapse: Mourning across Akwa Ibom as casualties increase

Emmanuel, who is a personal assistant to the Special Adviser to Governor Udom Emmanuel on Bureau of Cooperative and Rural Development, Ekemini Umoh, said: “I may not actually know what caused the building to collapse on us. We were inside there and the governor was there. The building collapsed on us all. Many were trapped.

“That is why I am here in the hospital. I can’t reach my boss now to know where he is because so many people were affected.”

Another victim, Mrs. Victory Edet, 31, from Itu Local Government Area, said : “Somebody invited me to the church; so when we got there, we sat down. A few minutes later the governor came.

“We welcomed the governor. After the congregation finished welcoming the governor, they called the choir to render a song. It was not up to 10 minutes that the house just collapsed.”

Mrs Edet, who was with her daughter Success, said she sat under the canopy with her baby before the building collapsed on them.

Miss Esther Akpan, 28, another survivor from Itu local government area said it was after the congregation had sat down after greeting the governor that the building suddenly collapsed.

She said: “I am a student in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. I came with my uncle to the church because I am staying with him here. He is a member of Reigners Bible Church. My uncle’s name is Mr. George Akpan.

“We were in the church. Everybody was singing. They said we should stand up to greet the governor. Everybody stood up and later they said we should sit down and we continued in singing praises.

“Before we knew what was happening, the church building just collapsed. I wanted to run with some of the children. They are my uncle’s children. Two boys, I tried to escape with them; before I knew what was happening, my leg was trapped and I was crying and shouting for help. Nothing happened to the children.”

READ ALSO: Uyo church collapse: 8 photos of the church after the collapse

The Governor of the state, Emmanuel Udom, has declared a two day mourning for the dead. He was among those who narrowly escaped death by the whiskers.

Meanwhile, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), has said only six deaths have been recorded so far in the collapse.

According to Daily Trust, Sani Datti, NEMA's head of media and public relations, while speaking in Abuja said that 115 persons were injured as a result of the incident.

Datti also explained that the emergency response team conducted a 360 degree search at the scene, both in and outside the church, adding that no casualty was left behind.