Church Collapses, Kills Three In Benin

Residents of Uzama Street, in Egor Local Government of Edo State, were in mourning on Friday evening after a section of a Pentecostal church building, Christ Chosen Church Deliverance Centre, located on the street, collapsed, killing no fewer than three people.

It was reported that the church building caved in while some youths, hired by the management of the church, were carrying out some demolition, to create more space in the church compound.

One of the youths who survived the incident disclosed that the owner of the building engaged him and eight others at the rate of N3,000 each per day. He said five of his colleagues were breaking the pillars when tragedy struck.

"The owner of Christ Chosen Church Deliverance Centre told us to demolish the building because they wanted more space in the compound. But some of us went out to eat because we were hungry.

"As we were eating, many people rushed to where we were coming from, when we got there, we discovered that the building had collapsed.

"We were nine in number but four of my colleagues were in the building when it collapsed. Two were brought out alive with injuries. One died and two others are still inside," he said.

The Edo State Commissioner of Police, Folusho Adebanjo, who visited the scene of the collapsed church building last night confirmed the incident.

Adebanjo told newsmen that one of the five youths working in the building died, adding, "We have information that we still have like two people inside the rubble and I have stationed some policemen there to prevent a breakdown of law and order while the search continues."