Synagogue Building Collapse May Have Been Caused by Internal Sabotage - Police

Synagogue Building Collapse May Have Been Caused by Internal Sabotage - Police 

The Nigerian Police Force yesterday told the Coroner,  conducting an inquest into the cause of the collapse of a building belonging to the Synagogue Church of All Nations, that the incident could have been caused by internal sabotage from lodgers or visitors to the church.

This claim was made by a Police investigator, DSP Olushola Agboyi, who also insisted that the tragedy could have been an act of sabotage by an undetected saboteur, who could have used explosives or chemical substances to bring down the building.

Agboyi, who works at the Homicide Section, Criminal Investigation Department, of the Police Force, Panti, Yaba, also told the inquest presided over by Chief Magistrate Oyetade Komolafe that the Bomb Disposal Unit of the Police visited the scene of the incident but was yet to present their report.

116 persons mostly South Africans who had come to the church for worship, were killed in the collapse of the six-storey building on September 12.

Agboyi, who was led in evidence by the Police counsel, Chukwu Agwu also stated that he led the team that investigated the collapse and was also a member of the Federal Government's panel.

The policeman further said he interviewed one of the survivors, Taiwo Temitayo Taiwo, who claimed he heard a thunderous noise and saw lightening moments before the building came crashing.

He maintained that after watching the CCTV footages of the incident, he was of the view that it was consistent with controlled demolitions.

"The building came down in seconds. From the analysis of experts, the collapse looked like controlled demolition. It should be subjected to the testing of experts outside the country," Agboyi added.

The witness also disclosed that the aircraft which allegedly hovered around the building was a CH 130 Hercules belonging to the Nigerian Air Force.

According to him, the aircraft was on a circuit training mission and was flying very low.

"I recorded statements from 34 witnesses who claimed the aircraft was flying very low and had caused panic among residents of the Ikotun area."

The witness also noted that the police did not rule out the possibility of structural defects as being responsible for the collapse.

He said they wrote to the Lagos State Ministry of Works to analyse the materials used in its construction, adding that they were still awaiting the response.  

The witness further explained that the Federal Government inter-agency panel investigating the incident had yet to conclude its findings.