The number of people who died in Saturday’s collapsed Reigners Bible Church building in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom capital, has risen to 29, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.
The state Police Commissioner, Murtala Mani, confirmed this on Monday in Uyo while speaking to a NAN correspondent.
NAN had earlier reported that 27 died as of Sunday, while 37 persons, who suffered from various degrees of injury were receiving treatment in designated hospitals.
The latest figure now shows that 35 persons injured are currently receiving treatment.
The police commissioner said,“the remaining 35 persons are responding to treatment.”
He however declined to confirm whether any member of the Akwa Ibom Executive Council (EXCO) was involved.
“I don’t know of any EXCO member involved,” Mr. Mani said.
He said he was not aware of the arrest of the contractor and the engineers that handled the church building project.
NAN reports that the state governor, Udom Emmanuel, had on Sunday, in a statewide broadcast, ordered the arrest of the contractor that handled the church building.
Mr. Emmanuel had also ordered investigation into the cause of the building collapse during a worship session.
Mr. Emmanuel attended the church service but escaped unhurt.
The governor was the special guest of honour at the bishopric consecration service of the church founder, Akan Weeks.
The church, sited along Uyo village road near Government House is alleged to have been hastily completed to allow for the hosting of bishopric ordination of the founder. (NAN)
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