Many people feared dead, injured, while dozens of others remain trapped following the collapse of a building in the premises of the Synagogue Church, Ikotun in Lagos.
The initial information is also confirmed by individuals on social media. About 15 people feared dead.
The six-storey building collapsed due to yet-to-be identified reasons. This building serves as a guest house for people travelling from far and for foreign visitors of the Synagogue Church, however, it has not been fully completed yet.
The collapse occurred after 12 in the afternoon. The total number of people present at the building at the time of the tragedy is controversial, ranging from 70 to 200. The possible victims include foreign believers, church members, canteen and construction workers.
At least 7 ambulances have arrived the scene almost immediately. Passers-by and drivers were reportedly helping to evacuate the victims to hospitals.
A military helicopter was seen hovering above the area shortly after the collapse. Strong police presence reported by multiple eyewitnesses as well.
According to SaharaReproters, Church security staff behaved in an aggressive way, attacked reporters of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and broke their camera. Work of the officials of the Nigerian National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has been also disrupted. One of the possible reasons is that the administration of the Church might have tried to cover up the real cause of the collapse and its scale.
This development caused pandemonium in the area and heavy traffic for those who were heading to Ikotun from Ejigbo, Mushin and related directions.
According to TheNation, the Public Relations Officer of the Lagos State Emergency Management Authority, Friday Adeboayo, confirmed the recovery of at least 15 dead bodies, adding that rescue operations to evacuate the injured persons would go on.
