News
Death Toll In Synagogue Building Collapse Now 116
A Consultant Pathologist, Prof. John Obafunwa, has revealed that 116 persons died in the Sept.12 when a guest house, owned by the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), collapsed in Lagos.
Obafunwa, who is the Chief Medical Examiner of Lagos State, made this known yesterday while presenting a preliminary report to a Coroner’s inquest set up to investigate the cause of the building collapse.
Led in evidence by Mr Akingbolahan Adeniran, Counsel to the Lagos State Government, Obafunwa said that the final report and identification of the dead bodies would be completed in the next two weeks.
The inquest, which is being presided over by Mr Oyetade Komolafe, was instituted by the Lagos State Government.
Obafunwa said that autopsies conducted on the bodies revealed that the victims died as a result of crush injuries also known as “traumatic rhabdomyolysis”.
He said that 46 of the bodies were deposited at the Isolo General Hospital mortuary while 63 were taken to the Mainland General Hospital mortuary in Yaba.
According to him, six bodies were brought to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) morgue at Ikeja.
He added that the number increased to seven following the death of one of the victims rushed to LASUTH.
“Some of the bodies were at the decomposing stage and mutilated, severely crushed, suffered multiple injuries, fractured bones, fractured limbs as well as skull injuries,” the pathologist said.
Obafunwa said that a team of forensic pathologists and dental surgeons conducted various tests including DNA test and dental analysis on the bodies for the purpose of identification.
“At this moment, we are putting together the autopsy report, the dental report, the photographs; we will be including the microscopic findings on the autopsy report,” the expert added.
He said that the team was waiting for the report of finger printing, DNA analysis as well as the list of lodgers it had requested from the church before finalizing its job.
Obafunwa assured one of the victims’ husband and a South African, Anthony Van Der Byl, that the body of his wife, Louise, would be released at the completion of the report.
“We are working closely with the South African Department of Health. They are assisting us with reference samples and I know that we are moving closer to the end of the process,” the pathologist said.
Confirming the development, Mr Louis Mnguni, the South African High Commissioner to Nigeria, told the court that the samples were still being analysed at the laboratory in Cape Town, South Africa.
Also testifying, Mr Oladotun Lasoju of the Lagos State Ministry of Works said that the ministry’s team of engineers had conducted tests on the materials used in constructing the building.
Lasoju said:” We visited the site as part of the rudiments in the investigation.I want to assure the court that the Lagos State Material Testing Laboratory is working assiduously, and I believe the result will be out in a maximum period of three weeks.”
However, Mr Ibrahim Farinloye, Head of Operations, Search and Rescue, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said that 86 bodies were recovered while 131 persons were rescued.
The case was adjourned till Oct. 29 for further hearing.
The Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has begun the celebration of Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary with a Juma’at service where prayers were offered for the progress of the state and Nigeria.
Governor Fubara, who advocated for peace and unity of Nigeria during the prayers on Friday at the Rivers State Central Mosque, Port Harcourt, indicated that without peace, the accelerated development of Nigeria will remain in a limbo.
Governor Fubara, who was represented by Alhaji Abdurrazaq Diepriye, therefore urged citizens to remain patriotic.
According to him, “Allah has brought us this far. Without peace, we can not have progress and economic development. I call on all citizens irrespective of creed or tribe to remain patriotic.”
He thanked President Bola Tinubu for restoring peace in Rivers State while also using the forum to appreciate security agencies for their relentless effort in upholding the peace and unity of Rivers State and Nigeria.
The Chief Imam of Rivers State Central Mosque, Imam Ibrahim Yaloo, admonished Moslem faithful to always speak the truth, adding that those who obey Allah will be directed to good deeds and their sins forgiven.
Prayers were offered for Rivers State and Nigeria.
Other activities to mark the 65th Independence anniversary in the state include an Inter-denominational Church Thanksgiving Service on Sunday, 28th September and Parade Ceremony on Wednesday, 1st October.
Vice-President Kashim Shettima departed New York on Sunday after representing President Bola Tinubu at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
In a statement released on Sunday by the VP media aide, Stanley Nkwocha, the Vice President is now headed to Germany, where he will hold strategic meetings with officials of Deutsche Bank.
The statement read, “Vice President Kashim Shettima has departed New York, United States, after successfully representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, at the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
“During his participation at UNGA 80, VP Shettima secured UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ commendation for Nigeria’s bid for a permanent UN Security Council seat.
“He also showcased Nigeria’s $200 billion energy transition opportunity to global investors and strengthened strategic partnerships with the UK on trade, defence, and migration issues.”
Nkwocha added that the VP delivered Tinubu’s national statement, calling for UN reforms and a permanent seat for Nigeria at the UN Security Council, and “demanded Africa’s control over its $700 billion mineral wealth, and digital inclusion initiatives.”
“He also engaged with the Gates Foundation on healthcare and education expansion, positioning Nigeria as the natural hub for the African Continental Free Trade Area’s $3.4 trillion market.
“VP Shettima was seen off at John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York, by cabinet Ministers who were part of the UNGA 80 delegation and Nigerian Mission officials.”
The aide noted that Shettima will return to Nigeria immediately after his engagements in Germany.
The Tide source recalls that the VP departed Abuja, yesterday.
He led other Nigerian officials at the Assembly.
As part of Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary celebration, the Federal Government held a special thanksgiving service on Sunday at the National Ecumenical Centre in Abuja to offer prayers and give thanks for the nation.
The event drew top government officials and security chiefs, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, as well as their spouses.
Other notable guests included Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Wale Edun, former Plateau State Governor, Senator Simon Lalong, and the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, who led the service chiefs in attendance.
Service chiefs present included the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice-Admiral Emmanuel Ogala, Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Immigration Service, Mrs Kemi Nandap and Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Sylvester Nwakuche, among others.00
The service came days after the government unveiled the official theme and some of the activities slated for the 2025 Independence celebrations.
This year’s anniversary is tagged “Nigeria @ 65: All Hands on Deck for a Greater Nation,” as announced by the Director of Information and Public Relations at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Segun Imohiosen, in a statement on Wednesday.
“As part of activities to mark the 65th Independence Anniversary, the Juma’at Prayer and the Inter-Denominational Church Service will be held on Friday, 26th September at 1 pm and Sunday, 28th September at 10 am respectively, as well as the World Press Conference on Monday, 29th September at 10 am,” he said.
The Tide source had earlier reported that President Bola Tinubu, alongside former Heads of State, Yakubu Gowon, Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, is expected as a special guest at a national discourse convened by the Island Club, Lagos, to mark Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary.
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