Okowa, Saraki express sympathy over Delta church collapse

1200px-Pope_Francis_Korea_Haemi_Castle_19_(cropped) — Pope Francis

At least was person, an eleven year old, was confirmed dead and fifteen others in critical condition after a church building collapsed in Adagbrasa community, Okpe council area of Delta on Sunday.

The only deceased in the accident; the 11-year old Jeffrey Jackson, was said to have been trapped down while trying to escape from the collapsing walls.

The Nation gathered that the Sunday morning Mass of the St. Paul Catholic Church, Adagbrasa Ugolo, was on when the walls of the church building came crashing on parishioners.

According to eyewitnesses, the service was just starting, although the officiating priest, who was to come from the headquarters of the council area, Orerokpe, was yet to arrive.

Worshippers had already assembled and were conducting initial service rituals when the building collapsed.

It was also gathered that no church member was still left trapped under the rubble of the collapsed walls as all those inside escaped unhurt, except for the deceased and the fifteen injured persons.

Describing the horrifying moment to The Nation newspaper on the site of the incident, a parishioner, Miss Elohor Amerotoraine, said members were holding initial service rituals, awaiting the arrival of the officiating priest, when they started observing cracks and collapse of walls around them.

“I was inside the church when it happened, it was around 7:30 to 8:00am. We were having service when it happened. We are under Orerokpe so they posted a seminarian to us, but the seminarian was yet to come when it happened. So we just finished sharing the rosary and were singing some hymns when we suddenly started hearing the wall cracking and falling.

“At that point everybody started running out to escape the falling walls. Before long the entire church had collapsed, it even killed someone; a boy of about 11 years of age. The five persons who got injured have been taken to the hospital. I don’t think anybody was trapped inside because we have all come out” Amerotoraine said.

Confirming the incident, the Delta state Commissioner of Police, Muhammad Mustafa, said the dead and the wounded had been evacuated from the scene.

“Yes, a Catholic church. There’s only one death; an 11-year old boy, the other victims are in different hospitals now receiving treatment. I can’t confirm how many of them are injured now, they are scattered in different hospitals. There’s nobody still trapped under the rubbles,” the police chief confirmed.

The Delta state Commissioner for Works, Chief James Augoye, who visited the scene of the collapse said the state government would investigate the cause, adding that the state would pick up the cost of treating the wounded persons.

……Okowa, Saraki express shock, sympathy

Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta has expressed shock over the death of a worshiper in the collapse of St. Paul’s Catholic Church building at Ugolo, Okpe Local Government Area of Delta.

Okowa expressed the shock over the unfortunate incident in a statement issued on Sunday by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Charles Aniagwu, and made available to newsmen in Warri.

The church building was said to have collapsed on Sunday morning while service was going on.

The governor described the incident as a sad, unfortunate and regrettable experience.

Okowa prayed for the repose of the departed faithful and condoled with the family.

According to the statement, the governor has dispatched the State Commissioner for Works, Mr James Augoye, to visit the site.

The statement added that the visit would enable the government to unravel the circumstances surrounding the collapse of the building and how it could assist the injured worshipers and the church.

It stated: “This is indeed a very sad and unfortunate incident. On behalf of the Government and people of Delta. I commiserate with the family of the deceased and those injured”.

Okowa also condoled with the Speaker of Delta House of Assembly, Sheriff Oborevwori, Chairman of Okpe Local Government Council, Julius Scott.The Orodje of Okpe, retired Maj.- Gen. Felix Mujakperuo and Ugolo community in Okpe Kingdom over the incidence.

“It is our prayer that the soul of the deceased will rest in peace, and the injured will experience quick recovery.

“Our thoughts and prayers will continue to be with the people of Ugolo in Okpe Kingdom over this tragedy,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Delta Speaker,Sheriff Oborevwori, has promised to foot the medical bill of those injured in the incident.

The President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, on Sunday, commiserated with the Delta State Government and the Catholic Church in Nigeria over the collapse of St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Okpe Local Government Area.

Saraki, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Yusuph Olaniyonu, promised to help ensure that survivors received necessary medical attention.

“My prayers are with the worshippers, affected families, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and the people of Delta State on this morning’s collapse of St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Okpe LGA.

“We will continue to monitor the situation and provide assistance to see that survivors are rescued and treated.

“Right now, we must all come together as Muslims, Christians, people of faith and most importantly, Nigerians to provide all necessary relief for the affected families and community.

“This tragedy affects us all and we join the Catholic community to mourn the deceased, even as rescue efforts are still under way,” he said.

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