By Godwin Utuedoye,
OREROKPE-THE Priest In-Charge of the St. Paul’s Catholic Church Adagbrassa-Ugolo which collapsed last Sunday, leading to the death of 11 – year – old Jeffrey Enukanerirhe, has giving the vivid picture of the incident and the reason why young Jeffrey Enukanerhire was interred in the Church compound.
Speaking to reporters who visited him, Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Obadjere said on that faithful Sunday, as worshippers gathered for Mass in the early hours between 7am through 7 :30 am, the building suddenly collapsed on the parishioners without a prior sign.
He said as soon as the information got to him , he in company of a medical doctor and some other executives of the parish quickly rushed to the scene, but that before their arrival, a lot of rescue efforts had been made as those trapped in had been brought out, but unfortunately one of the most committed brother lost his life.
Asked the number of injured parishioners, the priest said Eleven persons were taken to the hospital with serious injuries and that some were taken to the General Hospital, Oreropke and others to Ariemughare Hospital.
He disclosed that some of the victims were also discharged same evening of the Sunday, September 2 while over Seven of them stayed behind at the hospital.
“Over 25 persons were injured, he stated”. So many people sustained injuries but some were minor injuries, and so only those with severe injuries were rushed to the hospital immediately for treatment and others attended to within.
Asked if he had noticed or envisaged the building collapsed before it happened, the priest said no one envisaged such and that no one will noticed such and look the other way.
He said the building is almost a hundred years now, and that the people were struggling to erect a new structure. He said efforts has been on ground to build a new church even before I was posted here and as I resumed, I have to continue with what is on ground.
Attributibg the building collapse to so many reasons, the priest said it could be that the building was old.
On whether or not the victims will be compensated, the clergy said the church has responded by taking those injured to the hospital and, disclosed that the Church intends to take care of them before the state governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa stepped in to take over all expenses from their treatment.
Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Obadjere who was visibly in a dull moment in appearance said, he was at the hospital that morning to minister to the injured victims and to as well meet with those who are still suffering from the shock of the incident. He stated that his visit was to counsel them and pray for them.
He also revealed that since the old church building has given way, the new one that they have been under construction, will continue. He also disclosed that the Delta State Government has promised to erect a new Catholic Church building for Catholic fsithful of Adagbrassa Community, but said that in the event of its failure to keep its promises, the Chuch will continue with the erection of a new church building.
Describing the deceased 11 year old Jeffrey, Rev. Fr. Obadjere said he was a very nice, sharp and intelligent boy who played an instrument in the church, noting that he died at the area where he played the instrument . He is the son of the Laity Chairman in the Parish; he said.
We are grieved by the incident. We have expressed our condolences and we have been with the family since the incident happened. The Bishop of the Diocese,Most Rev . John Oke Afereha, has also in company of Vicar General, the Chancellor of the diocese and Chairman and members of the Christian Association of Nigeria in Okpe Local Government executives also the bishop.
“We have been there to condole with the family and what we are doing now is to counsel the family”. It is a miracle because old people, children and Jeffrey’ s family were all trapped in the collapsed building ; the fact that only one person died is a big miracle from God . We grieve the loss of our brother ( Jeffrey) , but we thank God all the same for all the miracles.
The priest who was in sober mood said the late Jeffrey was buried in the church premises to honour him and in his memory. It is show that he died in the church in course of serving God. He died in the church and was buried in the church. We will cherish his memory because the truth being that after the whole event , the boy has become a martyr as his blood is shed for the growth of the Catholic Church in that Community. You can be sure that after now , the faith is going to grow rapidly in that place because the boy died in the service of God, Rev. Fr. Obadjere noted.
We will continue to keep his memory; that is why he was buried in the church and we will beautify his grave he assured, adding that a scholarship scheme will introduce in his honour to keep the memory. He also disclosed that at the moment, the faithful do not have a place to worship God but promised that a temporary place will be secured for worshipe until a church building is erected.
“Though the government has not officially reached out to us, but If others do not turn up , the Catholic Diocese of Warri will certainly do something about it and we are grateful to God that it is not a mass burial we are doing and all injured persons are in a stable condition”.