Uyo Death Toll Now 29 As Governor Orders Arrest Of Contractors

SAN FRANCISCO, December 12, (THEWILL) – The Akwa Ibom State Police Command, on Monday , said the death toll in Saturday's building collapse at the Reigners Bible Church International, Uyo, had risen to 29.

Speaking on behalf of the command, the state's Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Cordelia Nwawe, said it cannot release the names of those killed until it completes the profiling of the dead victims.

“It was 27 dead persons yesterday ( Sunday ). It is now 29,” she said.

“We are still doing profiling of the dead victims. We cannot release the names now. We need to critically identify them so that we can release them to their families.

Meanwhile, the Akwa Ibom State Government has launched a manhunt for the builder of the collapsed church.

According to Aniekeme Finbarr, one of the Personal Assistants to Governor Udom Emmanuel on Media, said the governor ordered the arrest of the contractors and engineers, who handled the building.

He said they should be made to answer certain questions so that the state would get to the root of the matter.

Story by Oputah David