Four-Storey Church Building Collapses In Abia

A four-storey building belonging to Behold He Cometh Pentecostal
Church located at Umuagu Umuahia, Abia State, has collapsed following
an early morning downpour on Tuesday.

No life was however lost as there were no workers or worshipers at the
site when the building collapsed.

According to an eyewitness account, the building which was at its
final stage of completion before the tragedy collapsed around 10am
after heavy rainfall that lasted for hours.

An elder in the church, Mr. Awom Samuel, told journalists that cracks
were noticed on the wall of the building few days before the tragedy,
and the attention of the contractor was drawn to the development.

He wondered why the building which had cost the church so much
resources could just collapse like empty carton when the contractor
was provided with all he needed for the building.

When our correspondent got to the site, some sympathisers were
overheard blaming the contractor for the collapse, alleging that the
building had a structural defect, while others said the land where the
building was sited used to be a hip of sand deposit caused by flood
waters.

Meanwhile, when contacted, the Umuahia Capital Development Authority,
said it had commenced investigations into the incident.

A competent source which pleaded not to be mentioned said the use of
substandard materials were suspected to have led to the disaster, but
assured that the real cause would be established after investigations.

The source said government would not fail to apply adequate sanctions
against anyone found responsible for the tragedy.

The incident has brought about fears that fake building materials may
have infiltrated the Abia market.

Just last week, the state's Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil
Defence Corps, paraded seven suspects arrested in a compound at
Ugwunagbo suspected to be an illegal cement factory.

According to NSCDC, over 40,000 bags and tons of empty sacs of
different brands of cement including Dangote X3, Eagle cement, Freedom
cement, and Ibeto cement were discovered in the compound .

The prime suspect, Samuel Nwokeneme, 62, had said the business was
established early this year by his late son who died in an auto crash
along Enugu- Port Harcourt expressway three weeks ago.

The suspect who was incoherent in his speech, denied that they were
into any illegal cement production, saying they had to continue with
the late son's business to keep the family going.

Asked why they should have in their custody a stockpile of empty new
cement sacs of various companies when they were not their registered
agents, he said "we are using them to work."

Another suspect, Chibuzor, 27, initially claimed that he was only in a
near-by 'joint' when he was arrested by men of the NSCDC, denying any
involvement in the illegal business, but later admitted that he knew
that illegal business was going on there.

Asked if he had tried to alert security agents of the presence of such
illegal factory in his vicinity, he mumbled "some times."