Uyo Church Tragedy Victims Mostly Varsity Students, Say Witnesses …Sympathizers Celebrate Heroes

Remi Ladigbolu|

Eyewitnesses have revealed that majority of those who died when a church roof collapsed in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, on Saturday, were students.
According to the eyewitnesses, the church has a large membership among the students of University of Uyo, who were mostly affected.
Newsmakers learnt that the fatality figure from the incident is still rising, as relations and friends continue to mourn their loved ones on Facebook.
The building of the Reigners Bible Church Inc. had collapsed on worshippers during the consecration service of the pastor of the church, Apostle Akan Weeks, as a bishop.
An indigene, David Etim, wrote on his Facebook page: “My sister only changed her mind from attending that service at the eleventh hour. If not, my family would probably have been among those mourning today. We thank God. However, it is sad that this happened. A lot of the dead were students of the University of Uyo. May their souls rest in peace.”
Those that narrowly escaped death in the incident included the state governor, Emmanuel Udom and Weeks himself. The governor was reportedly pushed to safety by one of his protocol officers, Ernest Idem, who, however, sacrificed his own life in the process.
Weeks is said to be a close friend and confidant of the governor, whom the latter fondly refers to as his prayer partner.
Majority of the indigenes of the state have taken to the social media to express their pain and sorrow.
Among the victims that have been most widely mourned were Idom, who reportedly worked with Zenith Bank before joining the protocol department of the state government at the commencement of Udom’s administration and Dr. Cyril Ekong, a senior academic staff member at the University of Uyo.

In a moving tribute on Facebook, one Ndiana-Abasi Nana Udom wrote:
“Dear Ernest Idem,
“How was I supposed to know that when I called you on Wednesday to help me with the motherless items would be the second to the last day I will see you. You came immediately and took me to Mouka foam, where we bought all the mattresses for those children. How was I supposed to know that the last day I would see you will be on Thursday, when I asked you to get something for me at Ewet Housing?
“And today, I was called that you were seriously injured. I called your line several times but you were not picking up. I rushed out of the house to Life Care Hospital where I learnt you have been taken, only to see the Government House ambulance rushing you to the specialist hospital. I drove behind ambulance. When we got there, the doctors refused us entry into the theatre, but I forced my way in to watch you and was praying that you would survive.
“I had hope Ernest. I had faith. I was praying in my soul, Tears flowed freely. I watched them pump your heart for almost one hour. I pleaded with God to bring you back. But you gave up in my very own eyes. You took a bow without even telling us goodbye. I knew if you had opened your eyes even slightly, you would have said ‘oh master you came, thank you for coming’.
“Ernest you were a brother; you were too dependable; you went out of your way several times to be of help to me and my family. Death has robbed me of someone precious. I can’t believe I watched you being wheeled out and taken to the mortuary today. We did our best brother; we tried all we could. I want you to know that if we had the power to bring you back, we would have done so.
“Rest on my brother; rest on my dependable friend; rest on my reliable friend. I know you had dreams, but God knows why all this happened. Adieu Ernest. May lights guide you home.”
Also mourning Ekong, who had apparently attended the service on the invitation of a neighbour, one Lizzy Etebom Ekanem wrote on Facebook: “CY! My husband’s friend and my neighbour, it is unfortunate that you had to depart this way. You went to honour a friend’s and neighbour’s invitation, little did you know today would be your last. RIP CY. I wish your wife a quick recovery.”
The deceased’s brother, Chris Ekong, wrote on his Facebook page: “My blood brother, Dr. Cyril Ekong (Ph.D –Chemistry), an alumnus of UNIUYO, died in the church collapse. May his soul RIP?”

Meanwhile, the governor has vowed to do everything necessary to unravel the cause of the incident and also promised to ensure that anyone found culpable is brought to justice.