Building Collapse: Synagogue church workers damage journalists’ cameras, chase NEMA officials away
Officials of the Nigerian National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) have withdrawn from the scene of the Synagogue Church of All Nations in Ikotun, Lagos.
The Public Relations Officer, National Emergency Management Agency, Mr. Ibrahim Farinloye told journalists that they (NEMA) had to leave after the church’s security staff, operating aggressively and threateningly, attacked emergency aid officials.
“The church members have been very aggressive and hostile to us; they attacked us and we had to withdraw our services. I was attacked, the officials of the Lagos State Building Control Agency and the General Manager of LASEMA were also attacked. We were not hurt and our equipment was not damaged. This was, however, because we quickly left when they attacked us. We are still waiting to settle before we resume our job.” Farinloye said.
Also, Journalists were barred from covering the incident by church members, who were trying to play down the incident.
Young men suspected to be members of the church, mobbed and assaulted a photojournalist working for Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), smashing his camera.
They also molested other reporters and individuals who tried to take pictures of the scene.
Reasons for the “barbaric” behavior were unknown, but some speculated that the church may have been trying to cover up the real cause of the collapse. Others alleged Ebola virus disease patients were being kept there.
