Church Drummer Dies As Building Collapses During Mass In Delta

On the first Sunday of a new month, which in many churches in the country is celebrated as a thanksgiving service, worshippers troop to church gaily dressed to rejoice seeing another month in spite of the odds of challenging situations in the country.

For worshippers of St. Paul Catholic Church, Ugolo, Delta State, it was rejoicing turned to mourning as the church building collapsed during morning mass.

The church is located in Adagbrasa, Okpe local government area of the state.

After the hail of dust and amid the rubbles that followed the collapse, an 11-year-old boy, Jerry Enukanerhirhe, who is the church drummer, died on the spot while many worshipers sustained injuries. The deceased is the son of former minority leader of Okpe Local Government Area, Jackson Enukanerhire.

“We are aware of the collapse of the Catholic church in Ogbe local government area of the state,” Aniamaka Andrew, Delta police spokesperson, said.

“An 11-year-old boy named Jerry died as a result of the accident. Four persons have been hospitalised. The police is doing all we can to help the victims.”

Jeffery Enukanehire died on the spot when a section of the building wall fell on him while drumming during a prayer and worship session.

Giving details of the incident, his father, Jefferson Enukanehire, while lamenting the death of his son, said: “We had just finished the morning prayer for the 7:00a.m mass when the wall collapsed on my son.

“We had gone for service in company of my wife and five children when the unfortunate incident occurred.

The wall on the left side of the building collapsed and subsequently pulled the other sections of the building down on the worshippers.

My son had succeeded in freeing himself from the initial wall that fell on him when another section of the building fell and crushed him to death.”