Death Toll Hit 60, And 131 Alive As Experts Urge Govt To Seize Collapsed Synagogue Property

The death toll from the building collapse at the Synagogue Church of all Nations has been put at 59. This figure was made available this morning by the spokesperson of the National Emergency Management Agency, Ibrahim Farinloye.

Built environment experts have urged the Lagos State Government to confiscate the site of the collapsed six-storey building belonging to the Synagogue Church of All Nations.

The Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria on Monday vowed to unravel the immediate and remote causes of the collapse of the six-storey building. The council, in a statement issued in Abuja by its President, Kashim Ali, said it had mobilised its team of Engineering Regulation Monitoring Inspectors to visit the site of the collapsed building. It said while preliminary report of the visit had been received, a more detailed investigation was ongoing.


Relatives storm churchSome relatives of victims of the building collapse on Monday stormed the SCOAN premises, searching for news of their loved ones. The relative of one of the dead victims, identified simply as Gbenga, one of the carpenters in the church, was at the scene.

They went to the church with a coffin in a commercial bus. They were, however, denied entry by security men at the gate. They became agitated and soon there was a confrontation between the relatives and security men. The incident was brought under control by some officials of the church who pleaded for calm.

Police to probe terror claim The Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 2 Command, Onikan, Umar Manko has said the police were investigating the cause of the building collapse and the claim by the founder of the church, Prophet T.B. Joshua, that Boko Haram was responsible. Manko made the statement during a visit to the church on Monday.

Manko said, “His (Joshua) claim is just an allegation, subject to investigation. The outcome of the police investigation will determine the real cause of the building collapse.”

Also, The National Emergency Management Agency said the police had approved the release of sniffer dogs to assist in locating trapped victims.

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