Controversy trails death of Synagogue Church worshippers

Police have dismissed a report that three worshippers of The Synagogue Church of All Nations died at the Church premises Saturday.

Dolapo Badmus, the Lagos police spokesperson, said the deaths occurred in a hotel and that bodies of the victims had been sent for autopsy.

“They didn’t die at the church premises,” Ms. Badmus, a Superintendent of Police, told PREMIUM TIMES on Monday. “They are church members. They came for service but died in a hotel.”

But according to the Punch newspaper, at least three worshippers were confirmed dead at the church’s premises following a stampede that occurred during a special healing service last Saturday.

The newspaper listed the dead to include Emeka Okonkwo, Emmanuel Oherin, and a third victim who is yet to be identified.

The newspaper also quoted a witness as saying that the incident happened at about 4.30a.m.

“It was the church’s annual deliverance and healing programme,” the paper quoted the witness as saying.

“Usually at this time, the church becomes a beehive of activities as people come in their thousands to see the prophet for miracles.

“People lodge in different hotels surrounding the church. And they all arrive at the church very early.

“There is a canopy on the premises where worshippers are screened before they see the man of God.

“However, on Saturday, after being screened, the crowd was much and they started struggling through the doorway to see the prophet. In the process, three people collapsed. They were rushed to the Isolo General Hospital, where they were confirmed dead.”

The police spokesperson’s comment contradicted the response this newspaper got when it called a phone number listed on the church’s official website.

“Nothing like that happened, a lady who answered the call said when asked about the worshippers’ death claims.

“No one died. Please ignore such rumour. Thank you.”

Temitope Joshua (popularly known as TB Joshua), the church’s founder is yet to comment on the incident through his favourite medium of communication, the church’s official Facebook page, as at Monday morning.

Saturday’s incident came just as another tragedy occurred in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, where a Reigners Bible Church building, filled to capacity, collapsed killing at least 50 people.

In 2014, a five-storey building under construction at the Synagogue church collapsed as three additional floors were being added to the original two-storey structure, killing 115 people.

Source: premiumtimes