[dropcap]S[/dropcap]o far, three persons have been confirmed dead in the collapsed building housing the Salvation Gospel Ministry, Okpanam Road in Oshimili North LGA of Delta State.The figure was confirmed by the Police Public Relations Officer of Delta State Police Command, DSP Edafe Bright.
Speaking with the PPRO via telephone conversation, he advised journalists to desist from concocting figures of casualties, adding that the police remains the authority to release figures based on hospitals records and confirmations.
While rescue operation was still on-going last night, Secretary to the State Government, Chief Patrick Ukah, Commissioner of Police, CP Ari Mohammed Ali, Commissioner for Health, Dr. Mordi Ononye, Member representing Aniocha North Constituency in Delta State House of Assembly, Hon. Emeka Nwaobi and just this morning, Chairman of Oshimili North LGA, Hon. Innocent Esewezie and other stakeholders visited the scene of accident.
According to eye witnesses, over 150 worshippers were in the building when it collapsed.
The source stated that as at the time of collapse, workers carrying out reconstruction were still on site and the engineer immediately abandoned his car and took off.
It was gathered that the one storey building belonged to an Okpanam politician and former Oshimili North Council Chairman, Hon. Ben Okonkwo who later sold it to another landlord, but before then, had collected two years rent from the church who had occupied the building for several years before now.
Not waiting for the rent of the tenants to expire or give them time to look for another property, the new landlord quickly moved in and started reconstruction project.
We gathered that the engineer did remove the enforcement of the building and started joining up bricks and compartmentalising the apartment, leaving the decking bare while all pleas for them to give the church time to finish with their annual fasting and prayer programme proved abortive.
However, the tragic happened yesterday evening while the service of over 150 worshippers was about being rounded off and members were taking the Holy Communion.
The Police had confirmed three dead (a woman and two children) including the Assistant Pastor’s daughter, even as injured many are at about three different hospital locations receiving treatments.
Speaking to an expert in civil engineering with a reputable engineering firm, he said the way to go in this kind of scenario is to carry out detailed investigation into the incident.
He posited that government would have to first confirm if the building was approved and if the nature of work being carried out in the renovation project was equally approved.