Survivors Of Benue’s Collapsed Church Speak

Some of the survivors of last Saturday’s collapsed church building at Adambge Community, in Vandeikya Local Government Area of Benue State, which claimed 22 lives, with several other severely injured have recounted how they escaped death. They spoke with P.M.NEWS on their hospital beds.

Mrs. Francesca Ahemba, 60, Lydia Ityonengen, 65, and Patricia Shaagba, 35, all attributed their narrow escape from St. Robert Catholic Church building collapse to the grace of God

Francesa told P.M.NEWS that when the rain started she decided to seek refuge in the church before the tragic incident occurred.

She added that the wall suddenly collapsed and part of the roof fell on her leg and she was later rescued from the building by some members of the church.

Patricia Shaagba, who spoke with P.M.NEWS through an interpreter, could not remember vividly how the incident occurred.

She said that on that fateful day when the heavens opened with heavy rain, she ran to the church to seek refuge, only to find herself at the Community Health Centre with bruises all over her body .

While P.M.NEWS was at the Community Health Centre, arrangements were being made to transfer Patricia to St. Monica Hospital Adikpo for further medical attention because of her critical condition.

According to Mr. Emmanuel Gwarza, the nurse in charge of St. Elizabeth Hospital where 25 of the victims were taken to after the incident, Patricia and six others were being moved to St. Monica Hospital for further treatment because of their critical condition.

Last Saturday, when Christian faithful gathered to observe the pre-Easter vigil at St. Robert Catholic Church, a wing of the wall suddenly collapsed, killing 22 persons including women and children with over 35 severely injured.

—Ubong George/Makurdi