The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Ikotun Police Station, CSP Haruna Alaba has told the Coroner’s Inquest set up to investigate the circumstances surrounding the collapse of a guest house at the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), on September 12 that there is possibility of sabotage.
“One of the things being looked into is the possibility of sabotage, structure defect and security concern, we are considering every issue raised,” said Alaba, who stated that investigation into the collapsed building is still on at the State CID, Yaba area of Lagos.
“The police is investigating the possibility of the aircraft having anything to do with the collapsed building. I never at any time requested for the plan of the building.
“My investigation has not gotten to stage of getting name and contact of the contractor, so I never at any time requested for it. I did not request for the original CCTV footage of the incident either. Nobody complained to us about the aircraft hovering. Nobody is a complainant and nobody was arrested,” CSP Alaba said.
Further in his testimony, the DPO told the Inquest that policemen were at the collapse site to provide an enabling environment for rescuers.
“On getting to the scene of the collapsed building some minutes after the incident, I met rescue operations already on while policemen on duty around the area cordoned off the area to ward off suspected hoodlums from hijacking the situation.
“Most of the things said by the emergency rescuers were not true. I know that the enabling environment was provided for LASEMA and NEMA. What they are saying is not true. I allowed them to work freely at the site. The people we allowed in were officials of government agencies. NEMA and LASEMA and they never complained to the police that members of the church and the crowd prevented them from carrying out rescue operation.
“I will be surprised to hear that they (NEMA and LASEMA) were prevented from working on the first day. The church members started the operation but I cannot say the extent at which NEMA or LASEMA took charge. Church members crawled under rubble to bring out people trapped,“ the witness said.
The Coroner’s Inquest was adjourned till November 19 for continuation of police evidence while Prophet T.B. Joshua is expected to appear on November 20.
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