Pregnant woman, five others killed in Ondo building collapse

SIX persons including a pregnant woman were crushed to death on Tuesday, in Ija-Ugbo area of Arogbo Ijaw in Ese Odo Local Government Area of Ondo State, following the collapse of a Cherubim and Seraphim Church under construction.
About four other people were said to be seriously injured when the church building which was under renovation collapsed on them around 10 am.
According to an eyewitness, the six people had left their homes to the site of the church building to fetch some fire woods before the incident happened.
He explained that the casual workers who were working at the site had vacated the site for sometime after raising the building to accommodate more members of the church.
He, however, said the six people met their death when the building suddenly collapsed on them, killing the six people on the spot including the pregnant woman.
The source said the incident was the first in the community, linking the collapse to the use of interior materials.He said the incident was reported to the traditional ruler of Arogbo Ijaw, the Regent of Arogbo, Amos Sofiyea who rushed to the scene of the incident and had since commiserate with the family of the deceased.
An Information Officer with Ese-Odo local government, Monday Konwei, who also confirmed the incident said :“the victims were in the church premises to gather firewood which was used in the church building before part of the dilapidated old structure and the one under construction fell on them and killed six of them.”
The Chairman of the council Caretaker Committee, Bekewe Olowu also confirmed the incident, describing it as shocking and devastating
Confirming the incident, the State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Femi Joseph,d escribed the incident as sad and unfortunate.
Joseph who said only five people lost their lives in the incident explained that the people were killed while struggling for the used wood at the site of the building.
He gave the name of the victims to include, Morenike Bubuma, Margret Goloba, Mayama Goloba, Kowei Aboa and the pregnant woman, Dali Gunuboh
He said ” a renovation was going on in one of the churches in the area, they are trying to build a bigger church and while trying to demolish the old one after building the new one, the building collapsed while people were struggling for wood.
“Five people were killed on the spot while four others were seriously injured and rushed to a nearby hospital for medical attention”
Joseph however said the death of the five people could be avoided but said “the people were in hurry to fetch the wood saying they should have allow the bricklayer to finish their work before invading the building.
He said the command had begun ithe nvestigation into the incident.