The Nation Newspaper

Tag: church

  • 27 died in Akwa Ibom Church collapse, says Police

    The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has said that 27 people lost their lives in Saturday’s building collapse in Uyo, the state capital.

    The building of Reigners Bible Church International had collapsed during service, killing scores and leaving several others wounded.

    One of the survivors was the state governor, Udom Emmanuel, who was the special guest of honour at the special service.

    Speaking on behalf of the command, the State’s Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Cordelia Nwawe, said: “27 people have been confirmed dead.”

    Sympathisers have besieged the scene of the collapsed Church building as at the time The Nation visited on Sunday morning.

    There was heavy security presence at the Church gate under lock.

    While residents believe that the actual number of the casualties of may be more, the Nigeria Medical Association Chairman in the State, Dr. Aniekeme Uwah in a statement said reports from the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH) indicated that 21 people were brought in dead, while two out of the 23 that were undergoing treatment died due mainly to severe bleeding.

  • Sympathisers besiege Uyo collapsed Church scene

    Sympathisers have besieged the scene of the collapsed Church building in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State on Sunday.
    There was heavy security presence at the Church gate under lock.
    The actual number of the casualties of the Saturday incident is yet to be confirmed.

  • Collapse Church building: Akwa Ibom declares two days mourning

    Collapse Church building: Akwa Ibom declares two days mourning

    The Akwa Ibom State Government has declared Sunday and Monday, as days of mourning to honour victims that died on Saturday when a church building belonging to Reigners Bible Church International, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, collapsed during church service, killing scores and leaving several others wounded.

    One of the survivors was the state governor, Udom Emmanuel, who was the special guest of honour at the special service.

    The incident occurred during a special service: “Bishopric Enthronement”, to mark the ordination of its resident pastor, Akan Weeks.

    While the governor escaped unhurt, luck however ran against one of his aides, Ernest Inem, he died in the process. Also the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Ekerete Udoh had a broken leg while trying to escape.

    A lecturer in the Department of Economics, University of Uyo, Dr. Chris Ekong, confirmed to our correspondent on the phone that his brother, Dr. Cyril Ekong, died during the collapse church building.

    A lot of students of Uyo City Polytechnic who worshipped with the church were also consumed when the roof of the building collapsed. Some of them died instantly while others were rushed to hospital.

    A statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ekerete Udoh, said: “To this end, all flags will fly at half-mast within the state.

    “The 2-day mourning period will be rounded off with a Solemn Assembly at the Banquet Hall of the Government House, Uyo on Monday December 12, 2016 by 4.pm prompt.”

    As the death toll rises, the Chief Medical Director, University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, UUTH, Prof. Etete Peters yesterday said it would be difficult for now to ascertained the number of people that died, saying so many people were brought to the hospital dead.

    Prof. Peters said the hospital attended to and treated more than 50 patients.

    His words: “It will be difficult for now to know the figures of those that died. Some are brought in here while others are taken to Anua Hospital and Ibom Specialist hospital.

    “We treated more than 50 patients. They brought so many people dead. We did an emergency operation for so many people.”

    A source, who pleaded anonymity at UUTH, said he counted over 27 dead bodies on the ground before they were transferred to the morgue.

  • 60 rescued from debris of Uyo’s collapsed Church

    Gov. Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom on Saturday escaped unhurt as the Reigners Bible Church International building in Uyo collapsed during a worship session.

    Sixty casualties were however rescued from the building.

    The governor was the special guest of honour at the consecration service of the Founder of the church, Apostle Akan Weeks, as a bishop.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Reigners Bible Church International building, situated on Uyo Village Road, was still under construction when it collapsed.

    Its iron rafters caved in as the service was ongoing.

    A witness told NAN that the building collapsed 30 minutes after the governor arrived.

    ‘’When we were about taking offering, 30 minutes after the governor came in, the building caved in. Security operatives took him away,’’  he said.

    When NAN correspondents visited the scene, security operatives had cordoned off the entire building while trying to rescue those trapped in the debris.

    Another witness, Miss Uduak Effiong, told NAN that a female victim’s bowel was ripped open by the tragedy.

    Effiong, who is a communication arts  student of the University of Uyo, said that she lost three friends to the incident.

    Mr Joseph James, who also witnessed the building collapse, told NAN that the Founder of the church, Apostle Akan Weeks, was also brought out unhurt.

    Some rescue team members said that over 60 casualties had been removed from the debris.

    However, the state Police Public Relation Officer, ASP Cordelia Nwawe, said that she could not confirm the casualty figure since rescue operations were ongoing.

    She said that security operatives had been drafted to maintain law and order at the scene to prevent hoodlums from cashing in on the situation.

    “Rescue team members are trying their best to rescue all the victims trapped at the collapsed building.

    ‘’We cannot tell you the exact number of casualties now as the rescue operations are on,’’ she said.

    The rescue team at scene is made up of workers of Julius Berger Construction Company, the police, army, Fire Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Nigerian Medical Association and the Federal Road Safety Corps.

  • Church collapses during service in Uyo

    Church collapses during service in Uyo

    Rescue workers are battling to evacuate victims in a church building which collapsed in Uyo on Saturday while service was in session.

    Some senior government officials are suspected to be among the victims.

    The casualty figure is yet to be known.

  • Ewuare II holds thanksgiving in 500-year-old church

    Benin monarch, Oba Ewuare II, yesterday held a thanksgiving service at the over 500-year-old Holy Arousa Cathedral on Akpakpava Street in Benin, Edo State capital.

    The church was built during the reign of Oba Ewuare I in the 15th century, according to the Priest, Ohenosa Harrison Okao.

    Oba Ewuare killed a cow at the entrance before he walked inside in company of top palace chiefs.

    In his sermon, Ohenosa Okao, who spoke in Bini, said the reign of Oba Ewuare II would be a reflection of the achievements of Ewuare I.

    Okao listed some achievements of Ewuare I as introduction of coral beads.

    The cleric said the late monarch brought them from the river goddess.

    He added that Oba Ewuare I established the Edaiken N’Uselu title and other titles.

    He said: “There was nothing Oba Ewuare I could not do. He introduced the wearing of Ododo (red attires) and conquered many towns.

    “It was during Ewuare I that the Portuguese first came to Benin. He introduced tribal marks and did many great things.”

    On how the reign of Oba Ewuare II would affect the people, Ohenosa Okao said the new oba would introduce many reforms to uplift the social and economic aspects of the people.

    He warned against lying to the new oba to curry favours and taking over of many villages by youths in the guise of Community Development Associations (CDAs).

    Ohenosa Okao said Oba Ewuare II would not allow any politician to divert funds for the development of the state.

    The chief warned Enigie (the dukes) and Odionwere (village heads) to remain in their domains rather than lead from Benin.

    He said: “Many good things are going to come but what he wants is the truth and doing of good things.”

    The Esogban of Benin Kingdom, Chief David Edebiri, recalled that the village heads, who Oba Ewuare I conquered, attended last Thursday’s coronation.

    Edebiri said the crowd at the ceremony was an attestation that God sent Oba Ewuare II.

  • HOUSE ON THE ROCK CHURCH TO PREMIERE ‘93 DAYS’

    AS part of its campaign to promote a purposeful leadership in Nigeria, The Rock Cathedral in collaboration with Natives FilmWorks, Michelangelo Productions and the Bolanle Austen- Peters Production will premiere the highly anticipated Steve Gukas film – 93 Days.

    The premiere holds on Tuesday, September 13, 2016 at the Rock Cathedral, Lekki-Epe Expressway, Lagos.  It will be the third movie premiere of the renowned church. Last year, it premiered Selma and Captive which featured award -winning Nigerian actor David Oyelowo.

    Starring Bimbo Akintola, Danny Glover, Tim Reid, Somkele Idhalama, Keppy Ekpenyong, Gideon Okeke and other talented actors, 93 Days is a compelling story of dedication, sacrifice and resilience which celebrates the courage shown by the First Consultant Medical Team, the Lagos State & Federal Governments and well-meaning organisations in combating the Ebola virus, which broke out early 2014 in Nigeria.

    Bimbo Akintola portrays the late Dr. Stella Adadevoh who worked with her younger colleagues, and whose early detection of the disease in a patient and insistence on treating him contributed greatly to limiting the spread of the disease in Nigeria.

    The film also highlighted the rapid response of the Lagos State Government and its collaboration with other well-meaning organisations in combating the deadly virus which was aptly themed: ‘The Power of COLLABORATION.’

    Speaking on The House on the Rock Partnership with these notable bodies, the Senior Pastor of all House on the Rock Churches, Pastor Paul Adefarasin said, “House on the Rock’s mission is to work together with everyone that is invested in building a transformed nation, a better Nigeria, and this essence ties strongly into the courage displayed by Dr. Stella Adadevoh and her colleagues who brought hope to a nation that was being threatened by devastation, at the expense of their own lives. This is the kind of love and sacrifice that can truly bring transformation to all.”

    93 Days is also among the selected Nigerian films to be screened at The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in September.

  • ‘I discovered my music talent in church’

    ‘I discovered my music talent in church’

    Alexander Adelabu became the cynosure of all eyes recently after he won the “Got Talent” show organised by the Mass Communication Students Association (MCSA) of the University of Lagos (UNILAG). The 100-Level Mass Communication student, whose stage name is Magikz, tells MIFTAUDEEN RAJI (300-Level Mass Communication) what he seeks to achieve with his music.

    When did you start music?

    I started from the church. Then, I was a member of the choir. I learnt how to play musical instruments, such as mouth organ, flute and trumpet. That was where I had my foundation in music. At the age of 12, I had started writing lyrics. I started with gospel music, I added rap later. But naturally, I am a singer.

    What does EP stand for?

    It is called ‘Extended Play’ to launch my coming album. This is just like a taste of what the album will look like. I will drop three tracks next Saturday from the album. There is a song already being played. It is titled Mirror. The song will be premiered on UNILAG Radio and we are going to have air time on Kiss FM the same day.

    What inspired the songs you released?

    My inspiration came from the need to create awareness for my name in the music industry. The reason I am releasing the album is actually to get a record deal. That is basically the objective, but I am seeing farther than what I have achieved now. The first thing is to get a record deal, because I could grow a fan base with these songs. And this will make my name to be attractive to record labels.

    Without being signed up to record label, how did you finance your album?

    Actually, I will appreciate friends who support my dream. I don’t have sponsors yet, and it has not been easy. I believe support will come after I drop the first album. I have to do quality songs for people to hear and accept my talent. This is the best way to draw investment.

    What makes your music unique?

    I sing Afro-fusion, rap and R&B. All these put together make my music to be unique, because I am versatile. I don’t just sing one kind of music. You will find it funny that I can sing reggae too. I can tell you that Magikz is a complete brand.

    Do your parents support your music?

    I won’t say they support it completely, because most parents don’t want their children to do music. But for me, my mum supports it partially. Every parent wants their child to go to school and get good grades. I will definitely complete my education, because this is very fundamental. I have partial support from my mum, but my dad does not want to hear anything like music. I am confident he would change his mind when he sees my talent.

    How do you cope, combining music with academics?

    I try not to think that education is the least. I also try not to look at music as everything. I still take my education very seriously. I try as much as possible to focus on both. But as it stands now, I can’t say I’m 100 per cent focused on any of them. Right now, I would say music is taking more of my time. But, as God would have it, I am not dullard. I believe things will work out for me on both sides.

    What is your advice for students doing music? 

    They should know that whatever they do, they must give total commitment to it. You don’t know where God will help you. Everywhere you find yourself, always try to express your talent and don’t believe that the future is coming. The future is now. Education will actually open your mind to aspire for more. It is what you use the education to achieve will be your gain.

  • Church members distribute food to Ekiti civil servants

    •APC youths to Fayose: pay workers

    Some concerned members of Redeemed Christian Church of God, Priesthood Parish, Onigari GRA, Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, have donated food items to needy civil servants in the state to save them from hunger.

    The gesture, which was spearheaded by workers of Federal agencies and Ekiti State University (EKSU), was carried out at yesterday’s service.

    It was designed to give the recipients some relief over their unpaid  six months salaries.

    Food items distributed include rice, Semovita and vegetable oil, which the church’s Assistant Pastor, Anthony Olowonihi, said was carried out to identify with Ekiti civil servants “at this critical period”.

    The President of the Men’s Fellowship, Oluwatoba Rotimi, appreciated the gesture, calling on other churches to emulate it.

    The pastor in charge, Mrs. Bolaji Aribisala, said members should be their brothers’ keepers and should allow the brotherly love to continue.

    The Ekiti All Progressives Congress (APC) Youth Frontier yesterday described the hardship being faced by workers as “heart-rending”.

    It called on Governor Ayo Fayose to find means to pay their salaries.

    In a statement by its Coordinator, Dapo Ipoola, the APC Youth Frontier described the failure of the state government to pay the workers as “outrageously callous because the governor is taking his own entitlements such as N250 million security vote  as a well as N250 million running grant – totalling half a billion naira monthly.

    The youth said the governor’s claim that the debt left behind by the immediate past administration can no longer be believed as that government also experienced paucity of funds, but managed the available resources well.

    Ipoola criticised Fayose’s inconsistencies with debt figures being quoted but expressed satisfaction that the Debt Management Office has clarified the actual debt profile of Ekiti far less than figures reeled out by the governor.

    He said: “If not sheer wickedness, the governor left the salaries of workers unattended to and concerns himself with building a flyover bridge; of what socio-economic importance is that project compared to the cascade of administrative tepidity and torpidity on ground?

    “Why is the governor not coming out clean on the IGR of Ekiti? What has happened to the exorbitant tax fees mindlessly imposed? If the governor said he had discovered 500 ghost workers and the labour force is not being reinforced, what has happened to their salaries?

    “We implore the governor to do the needful or sleep away with the unpredictable attendant consequences of this which shall be civil and he should learn how to make lemonade out of lemon.”

  • 20 injured, two houses burnt as church crisis deepens

    The  leadership crisis that has polarised the Assemblies of God Church, Saminaka in Lere Local Government of Kaduna State, deepened yesterday.

    A faction, armed with dangerous weapons, invaded the church yesterday during service by the other faction.

    A source said fighting  started around 8am and lasted till noon. He said about 20 persons were injured and houses of the resident pastors burnt.

    Governor Nasir El-Rufai, in September 2015, ordered the church closed, including the Theological Seminary of Northern Nigeria (TSNN), Saminaka, Shalom Comprehensive College and AGC Evangelist Hospital, Saminaka, to avoid a breakdown of law and order.

    Another source said a faction in the minority, sneaked into the premises on Saturday evening and slept overnight.

    “We came to worship around 8am, unknown that the other faction had prepared for war. We came into the premises and secured the gates against intruders.

    “As soon as we had settled for proceedings, about 20 members of the other faction appeared.

    “They were armed with knives, daggers, clubs, rods and other weapons. But surprisingly, police, Army and civil defence personnel arrived almost the same time.

    “The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Saminaka seemed in charge. He told us to come out of the church and leave the premises. We said we would only do so if the armed faction, which was throwing stones at us, also left.

    “In no time, they attacked us, injuring many of us. Since we were not armed, we had to find a way to escape. The most frightening thing was that the stones were falling into Hausa Muslims homes. If these people had reacted, I don’t know what Saminaka would have been today.

    “But the Muslims came out and laughed at us. It is such a disgrace. Surprisingly, the security men did nothing to stop them. After injuring us, they went to the homes of our resident pastors and set our two pastoriums ablaze.

    “As I talk to you, about 20 of us are seriously injured, some near fatal, and are in various hospitals in Saminaka.

    “The police did nothing to stop them. They have not arrested anybody, and the police know them, because they were not wearing masks,” he said.

    Police spokesman Aliyu Usman said he had not been briefed on the violence.