Worshippers escape unhurt as building collapses on church in Lagos

Some worshippers at a parish of the Redeemed Christian Church of God located in the Somolu area of Lagos State escaped death by a whisker on Monday after a two-storey building that was under construction collapsed on the church building.

In a statement on Monday, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), made it known that the building collapsed during the decking process.

He disclosed that one of the pillars of the collapsed building fell on the church building.

Oke-Osanyintolu stated, “Upon the arrival of the agency’s response team at the scene, it was observed that a two-storey building under construction was found to have collapsed during the decking process.

“Preliminary investigations conducted by the Cobra response team revealed that the collapsed structure was one of two structures being constructed at the site. The cause of the incident has yet to be determined as of the time of report.

“No life was lost and no injuries recorded as the workers reportedly escaped the scene unscathed before the arrival of emergency responders.”

He added that upon arrival at the scene, a search and rescue operation was carried out and it was discovered that nobody was trapped under the debris of the collapsed building.

The Perm Sec also noted that worshippers at the RCCG parish escaped without injuries.

“The pillars of the collapsed building fell on a church (RCCG, Liberty Parish at 5 Craig Street), which was partially affected but no life was lost and no injuries were sustained as worshippers in the church also escaped unscathed.

“The Cobra response team, alongside all other responders, coordinated a search of the incident scene to ensure no victim was trapped under the collapsed building.

“Public enlightenment and sensitisation were carried out on the need to stay away from the collapsed site,” Oke-Osanyintolu stated.