The DPO in
charge of the Ikotun division, CSP Haruna Alaba, has told the coroner at
the ongoing inquest into the collapsed building at Synagogue Church
that the possibility of sabotage against the church has not been ruled
out as the possible causes of the incident that left more than 100
people dead.
According to the
Chief Superintendent of Police, going by documented evidence he had
seen, including the CCTV security footage of the collapsed building, it
was possible that the building could have been bombed or demolished
using explosives. These suspicions, he said, are still being thoroughly
investigated to ensure that the true cause of the collapse is
ascertained.
Speaking
further, CSP Haruna also observed that on the fateful day of the
incident, an aircraft flying at a very low altitude had been sighted
close to the building shortly before it went down like a pack of cards.
Though, he agreed that it was not unusual to see aircraft flying above
the Ikotun area due to its proximity to the airport, the DPD pointed out
that the aircraft sighted on the day of the incident was flying
unusually low such that even the police radio room went on air to
announce the strange occurrence prior to the collapse.
While undergoing
cross-examination by counsel to the Lagos State Government,
Akingbolahon Adeniran, the DPO further explained that
despite the
near-pandemonium that was witnessed on the day of the incident as a
result of massive crowd, he and his men were able to achieve their goal
of ensuring the enabling environment for the various rescue operators to
carry out their duties.
This submission
contradicted the account of the General Manager of LASEMA, Dr. Damilola
Oke-Osanyintolu, which suggested that he and his team were assaulted and
that the police did not help them in the discharge of their statutory
duties. According to DCP Alaba, it was true that he and his men had a
hectic time controlling the crowd which had built up around the entrance
to the church, the development did not stop them from ensuring a
hitch-free rescue operation.
He further
observed that there were instances when people who could not properly
identify themselves were barred from entering the premises, citing the
fact that the measure helped in preventing the influx of criminals,
hoodlums and other miscreants who could have seized the emergency
situation to carry out their nefarious activities.
He said: “I am
surprised that the LASEMA boss claimed that he was assaulted or was not
given an enabling environment to operate. That’s not true. We worked
together and he never once complained to me during or after the
operation that he was hindered.
“My men were
solely responsible for the admittance and rejection of personalities
into the scene of incident. The church members didn’t constitute any
nuisance as speculated in some quarters. What some fail to remember is
that there is a market beside the church and that the street the church
is located is a public place. Also, the government agencies only brought
one excavator that I am aware only worked for a few hours before it
packed up. It was Julius Berger who came to the rescue by moving in with
heavy duty machines.”
He further
added, “The police would not rule out the issue of sabotage because
bombs could have been planted anywhere, including air conditioners. We
will also investigate the issue of the plane because on that particular
day, we got several complaints from our control room about the
appearance of aircrafts flying too low for comfort. It created quite a
panic among the residents”.
The presiding
magistrate adjourned proceedings until Wednesday, 19th November, noting
that Prophet T.B. Joshua would be expected in court the following day on
Thursday.
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