Some survivors of the Reigners Bible Church International
Inc, Uyo collapsed building have given a first-hand account of how it happened on Saturday.
One of the survivors, Eno Etim, who
spoke with our correspondent, 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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