Some
women who survived the horrible tragedy that rocked a church building
in Uyo, has spoken out about how the incident occurred.
Survivors: Eno Etim (left) and Emem Akpanitiat at the St. Luke’s General Hospital, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State…on Sunday.
A first-hand account of how the Reigners Bible Church International Inc, Uyo building collapsed on Saturday, has been given.
The first hand account was given by some survivors of the tragic incident.
According to The Punch, one of the survivors, Eno Etim, who spoke
on Sunday, said the building collapsed shortly after a lady was called
to lead the praise worship.
Etim, who hails from Mbo Local Government Area of the state, said
there was no foreboding of the monumental disaster that was waiting to
happen.
The housewife, who spoke shortly before she was moved out of the
St. Luke’s General Hospital, Annua, Uyo, to the University of UYO
Teaching, Uyo, said the congregation was dancing when the church
collapsed.
She said that she could not recall how she landed in the hospital,
adding that an iron bar hit her at the back, sending her reeling on the
floor before she passed out.
Explaining that she was not a member of the church, Etim said she
had come to witness the ordination of the presiding pastor of the
church, Akan Weeks, as a bishop, because they both belong to the United
Intercessors Network.
She said, “I was inside the church. Everything was normal;
there was no problem. A lady was called to lead the praise worship
session; the governor came in shortly after that. As the praise worship
was going on, the building fell and I didn’t know how I got here.
“The iron fell on my back forcing me to fall on the ground with my face down. I
don’t worship in the church. I worship in the United Intercessors
Network, which Bishop Akan Weeks also belong to. I don’t live in Uyo. I
came all the way from Oron.”
Etim’s niece, Nkoyo Okon, said she was at home when someone called her and told her about Etim’s plight.
“I knew she went to the church. But she later called me on the
phone to tell me she had been taken to Annua hospital. So, I had to rush
down here. I’m grateful to God she is alive,” Okon said.
Another victim, 22-year-old Emen Akpanitiat, said the building came
down when the congregation embarked on praise worship when the governor
came in.
Akpanitiat, who hails from Ikot Mbonde in Itu LGA, said the church
building collapsed while the congregation was dancing and singing
preparatory to offering collection.
She said, “It was when the governor came and people started
dancing. I’m in pains. The doctor said I’m going to be moved to the
University of Uyo Teaching Hospital.”
Speaking to our correspondent, her sister, Emen Inyang, said the family was grateful to God for saving her life.
“I was not in the church. I called her number and I was told that she had been rushed to Annua hospital,” she said.
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