By PETER DURU, Makurdi
They were said to have gathered for a church vigil to mark the climax of Easter which is the resurrection of Jesus Christ and his victory over death. But they had instead met their untimely death in a rather bizarre tragedy when the building of St Robert Catholic Church, Adamgbe, in Vandeikya Local Government Area of Benue State caved in, leaving no fewer than 22 persons dead, with 35 others in critical condition.

Among the dead were 16 women and six children who were among the throng of worshippers at the church   to usher in the Easter festivities.

Over 1000 Worshippers had gathered at about 9pm for the commencement of the open air service within the premises of the church without any premonition of danger or remote threat to their lives.

Vanguard Metro, VM, gathered from an eyewitness that midway into the worship, there was a heavy rain storm and whirlwind which forced the Parish Priest, Rev. Father Cosmos Jooli to halt the open air service, deciding that it continued indoors in the 49-year-old church building.

But as the service was going on, a strong rain storm swooped down on the church building, pulling down the roof and walls of the building. This immediately triggered a stampede as  the worshippers gave in to panic, leading to the death of many who would have survived the unfortunate tragedy.

*The 49-year-old church building after it collapsed on worshippers

According to the eye witness, the wailing and cry of the victims attracted the attention of villagers who stormed the church premises for emergency rescue operation. He also disclosed that a family lost three  members to the unfortunate incident.

Recounting their ordeal, three survivors of the accident, Philip Ierkwagh, Mathias Tyagber and Joseph Wuhe said the death toll was high among women and children.

They said the dead women and children were the first to occupy the church when the storm started and had the opportunity to sit near the altar which was the first and the worst hit when the collapse started. But most of the men sought shelter in a nearby primary school.

According to Mathias Tyagber: “Many of the women died because they were occupying the front row and many of them had their children lying on mats.

“Many of the male members of the church took refuge in a nearby primary school while the storm raged.

“When the building came crashing down, many of the children and women were instantly crushed.

“The death toll would have been higher but because most of those who were sitting outside moved in quickly to rescue those inside.

In his account, the Parish Priest of the church, Father Jooli who was still in shock said the church collapsed while the service was ongoing.

He disclosed that the aged church was built in 1963, stressing that its pillars where weak and not reinforced with iron rods.

“The age of the church building and the structural defects actually contributed the sudden collapse,” he stressed.

He added that the church gave way and crushed the dead worshippers after the sustained battering it received from the storm.

He informed that the dead have been deposited at the Vandeikya General Hospital, while the injured are being treatment at the St. Elizabeth Maternity Health Centre Vandeika. Some, he added, have been moved to St. Monica Hospital in Adikpo, Kwande Local Government Area.

The Chairman of the local government council, Benjamin Dogwo, who expressed shock and disbelief at the disaster, said the prompt response of the council saved many lives.

Dogwo said the local government council would extend assistance to survivors and families that lost relations to the tragedy.

When VM visited the scene of the tragedy many persons were seen digging through the rubbles of the collapsed building in search of possible survivors.

Reacting to the unfortunate incident, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Makurdi, Rt Rev Athanasius Usuuh, who prayer for the repose of the souls of the dead, said the affected persons died in the service of their creator, the Almighty God.

Among the early callers at the tragedy site were the Deputy Governor of the state, Chief Steven Lawani, the Benue State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Christopher Katso and other top government functionaries in the state.

After undertaken an on-the-spot assessment of the scene, Lawani commiserated with families that lost loved ones to the tragedy. He also assured that the state government would offset the bills of those in hospitals, just as he directed an immediate supply of relief  materials to survivors.

Speaking on the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO,  ASP Alaribe Ejike, who accompanied the Benue State Police Commissioner to the site said the police did not see any foul play in the tragedy.

He dismissed speculations that the incident was caused by an attack as reported by some foreign media agencies.