Local and foreign forensic experts are shifting for evidence in the rubble of a building of Synagogue of All Nations which collapsed on September 12 and took with it 86 lives at the last count.
The forensic experts will try to identify the corpses, as well as the cause of the collapse, and recommend measures to forestall such tragedy in the future.
National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Director (Search and Rescue), Charles Otegbade, who represented the Director General, Muhammad Sidi, visited the church on Friday, September 19.
Otegbade expressed sadness over the disaster and relayed President Goodluck Jonathan’s concern.
He said the government and its agencies would help rehabilitate those affected, disclosing that the number of South Africans who died was higher because the impact of the collapse was greater in their wing of the building.
The involvement of forensic experts, he explained, is to know “who is who” among the casualties because some people who bought flight tickets online to visit the church might not have travelled.
Otegbade held a close door meeting with the Pastor of the church, Temitope Balogun Joshua (popularly known as T.B. Joshua).
Lagos State Physical Planning and Urban Development Commissioner, Olutoyin Ayinde, said while the investigation continues there are no plans to shut down the church for violating building regulations.
On the veracity of the “strange plane theory” which reportedly flew low over the building 50 minutes before it collapsed, Ayinde said the ministry has submitted the video clip provided by the church to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
“We want to categorically state that the church has provided assistance when and where required and continues to do so” the church said in a statement.
It disclosed that the church “views this tragedy as part of attack” on it and, particularly, Joshua, but “in due course, God will reveal the perpetrators.”
