Lagos, Nigeria : The roof of a crowded church collapsed onto worshippers in southern Nigeria, killing at least 160 people, witnesses and an official said.
The Reigners Bible Church International in Uyo, capital of Akwa Ibom state, was still under construction and workers had been rushing to finish it in time for Saturday’s ceremony to ordain founder Akan Weeks as a bishop, congregants said.
Hundreds of people, including Gov. Udom Emmanuel, were inside when metal girders crashed onto worshippers and the corrugated iron roof caved in, they said. Emmanuel and Weeks, who preached that God will make his followers rich, escaped unhurt.
Bodies of at least 160 victims have been retrieved as a crane removes debris, according to a rescue official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorised to speak to reporters.
The governor’s spokesman, Ekerete Udoh, said the state government will hold an enquiry to investigate if anyone compromised building standards. Buildings collapse regularly in Nigeria because of endemic corruption with contractors using sub-standard materials and bribing inspectors to ignore shoddy work or a lack of building permits.
In 2014, 116 people died when a multi-story guesthouse of the Synagogue Church of All Nations collapsed in Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial capital.
Most victims were visiting South African followers of the megachurch’s influential founder T. B. Joshua.
