Akwa Ibom tragedy: Survivors still in shock, relive experiences

The tragic incident that struck recently in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital as worshippers gathered for the ordination of Akan Weeks, founder of Reigners Bible Church, who was to be made a bishop, has got many wondering whether the disaster could have been averted, anyhow.
The death toll from the collapse of the church building has continued to rise and the exact figure may not be known in the final analysis.
Initially, the state government said that 23 persons lost their lives but this has since been revised upwards putting the number of deaths at 27. First it was Governor Udom Emmanuel who announced the death toll during a church programme at the of the two-day mourning period. The latest figure was issued by his chief press secretary.
When Satan began to move against a man called Job, he attacked everything that belonged to him. But one interesting thing is that there was always a survivor to tell the story. When the fire came from nowhere and consumed the man’s herd of flock and his servants, one person escaped to tell the story. When some enemies came suddenly upon those he put in charge of his camel and destroyed bother the animals and the keepers, one person escaped to tell the story. When those who worked in his field were all mysteriously consumed, someone escaped to tell the story. And when the house in which all Job’s children were making merry caved in and killed of them, a bystander escaped to tell the story. In every tragedy in life, there is always a person that survives to tell the story.
So it happened penultimate Saturday that despite the fact that many worshippers lost their lives in the incident, some others are fortunate to survive to tell their stories.
It was a programme that involved dignitaries from all walks of life including politicians, students, businessmen and women, journalists and ordinary people.
Governor Udom Emmanuel, who was the special guest of honour, was able to escape unhurt.
One of the survivors, a journalist and member of the Government House press crew, recalled his experience when the roof of the building came down.
“I can’t recall anything; all I saw was darkness on the left and light on the right. We did not spend up to 20 minutes when the disaster occurred. It started from the back row. I was on the 4th row.
“Certainly, I saw blood gushing out of my head though nothing had hit me. I thought it must have been head-to-head bruise or part of the roofing sheets because until the blood came out there was no sign that something had hit me.
“The loud sound from speakers and dancing as well as shouting made people not to hear signs the roof was about to collapse and the worst was that it came from the back row.
“As I was going through the programmes to see how it will go, I never noticed that the building was about to collapse as I was trying to go backwards not knowing that where was happening, people rushed to get out and blocked the way, someone hit me on the head I fell down but I was lifted up by a colleague that we sat together. “God saved my life.
But speaking from his hospital bed from an undisclosed location, the founder of the church, told a radio station in Uyo, the state capital that his leg was damaged in the incident adding that he was no longer interest in being ordained as a bishop.
“My name is Akan Weeks, it is very unfortunate the incident that happened on Saturday during my bishopric enthronement, I call to say that God is still on the throne. Only God knows best and nobody can question him.
“And I want to say that for the departed souls and those who are injured, God will give them quick and speedy recovery. I want to tell every family that is in pain that our God is the healer.
“Let Christians in Akwa Ibom state know that this battle is not all about Akan Weeks and his church; it is a battle between the kingdom of darkness and the church in the land.
“Let nobody believe the speculation that I was enthroned as the bishop, the enthronement was cancelled and I am not interested.
“I want to say a very big thank you to Governor Udom Emmanuel, medical personnel, others for their love and support during my trying moment.
“Please, this is not the time to crucify me; I’m still your brother. Reigners Church family, I’m still your pastor. The enthronement was cancelled completely and I am not interested. Please let us rise and pray. I really sympathise with the departed soul. Once, I’m out of my hospital bed I will come on air and we will pray together. I was also seriously injured. One of my legs was seriously damaged.
For Colonel Edem Efreti, a journalist who covers the Akwa Ibom Government House for Akwa Ibom Broadcasting Corporation (TV), he attributed his escape from the tragic incident to God’s power.
“I did not sustain any injury though I later felt some aches all over my body. I can remember everything but I won’t be exact for the time it happened. Well, I can only attribute it all to God. He saved me and used me as a medium to save two others.
Efreti, who was able to lend a helping hand to two other colleagues of his, said he had to tear the canopy-like roof to save his friends.
“I supposed something like blue sheets covered the metals. I don’t know what that is called. From under, I cut it and I pushed to move out from the iron before every other thing. The roof came down on us. God saved me, used me to tear the roof open and that was it. Praises should be to the Lord and not me. No one attributes higher powers to himself. I recognise that power as God’s. He saved us,” he said.
Many questions have been raised about the location of the church and its construction. While many think that its location close to a ravine was not the best, others say the manner in which the construction was done left much to be desired.
According to Atta Ikiddeh, a public affairs commentator, the church did not collapse gradually, adding that it was sudden given worshipers little or no time to escape.
“People heard a sound and suddenly the roof caved in. This sort of sudden structural failure is initiated when the material is stressed beyond its strength limit, thus causing fracture or excessive deformation. If the structures had been well designed, a localised failure would have simply caused a progressive collapse of the roofing structure. The strength and elasticity of the heavy metal irons would still have held the structure in place, giving the members enough time to escape but unfortunately this did not happen- what victims witnessed was a sudden ultimate failure strength; it means there was a fundamental error in the structural engineering and structural design of the building,’’ Ikiddeh said.
According to him, it is difficult to imagine why the church embarked on such an edifice without a permanent or temporal central column.
“It is most certain that if the scaffold had been in place the roof would not have collapsed. It was a mouse trap waiting to happen, the roof would have caved in sooner or later; the death toll would have been worse. I believe God in his infinite mercy invited the State Governor for the event in order to lead the rescue mission with his pool of official vehicles, ambulances and fire engines to salvage the dead and rescue the dying.’’
Many others were not so fortunate to escape unhurt. Chris Udoh, the newly appointed commissioner for information and strategy, and the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ekerette Udoh suffered various degrees of injuries and are currently being hospitalised. While the commissioner suffered a broken skull as he was hit by one of the heavy iron bars, the chief press secretary had a broken leg.
By far, that tragic incident of Saturday December 10 remains the most devastating disaster to have hit the state in many decades.
According to Moses Ekpo, the state deputy governor, the news of the tragic incident was made more palpable as the governor of the state was in attendance at that consecration service where some lives were inadvertently lost, adding that the incident remains “the singular most devastating disaster to befall us as a state, in recent history.”
He described it as “the darkest hour” in the history of the state.
Meanwhile, an eight-member commission of inquiry has been constituted by the governor to investigate and probe the immediate and remote cause of the incident.
The commission has Justice Umoekeyo Essang (Rtd), as Chairman, with James, Utiaruk; Essien Nkanga; Assistant Commissioner of Police Damian Abibo; John Linus; Asuquo B. Okon; and James Amiang, as members, while Emem Victor Daniel of the Ministry of Justice, serves as Secretary of the Commission.
Inaugurating the members in his office, the Governor urged the commission to investigate the circumstances that led to the collapse of the Reigners Bible Church building in Uyo last weekend.
Among the terms of reference include, “the role played by any person, institution or authorities and the consequences of such roles in the collapse of the church building.”
The commission is also charged “to identify any person, institution or authorities responsible either remotely or immediately in respect of the collapse of the church building; recommend appropriate sanctions and or actions against all persons found culpable in the said church building collapse;” and also “examine generally all circumstances surrounding the collapsed church building and recommend measures and actions to be taken by any person, institution or authority to guard against future occurrences.”
Udom has further urged the commission to “indict persons, organisations, groups or otherwise found culpable in the course of its inquiry and make appropriate recommendations to government.
The commission which has three (3) weeks from the date of its first sitting to submit its interim report, is also to “make such further examinations or inquiry which may, in its opinions, give effect generally to the terms of reference.”
Responding, the chairman of the commission, Umoekeyo Essang, commiserated with the government and people of the state on the tragic incident.
He thanked the governor for the confidence in the members and pledged to commit all effort at their disposal to justify the confidence.