Addressing his congregation during yesterday’s service, Joshua said: “I know this is not the right time to talk. I will just say a little because I don’t want to interfere with the job of security personnel.
“First, I received a call that there was a jet hovering around the mountain (the church) which I just left at very close range. Later, I was informed that the plane in question was flying dangerously low over a particular building within the church premises. This is to tell you we have a stable terrain in this area. I have been in this community for the past 30 years and no building has ever collapsed here
“I know you will ask me why Synagogue? Don’t forget the spiritual blessing that God has bestowed on us? A big head wears a large hat. They are trying to scare you from coming to this church. Don’t be scared, you are not the target, I am the target. I know my hour has not yet come. I have not yet finished my job. There is no compromise in what we do at all. I am going to leave this for you to judge. I want to assure you that our God will get back at them – the agents of Satan.
“The reason I am showing you this is for you to know the God you are serving. God wants to reveal to you what He has been doing that you don’t know about. I know that faithless attendees may likely stop visiting this church”, he said.
He, however, assured that effort was in top gear to rescue the remaining trapped victims, even as he described those who lost their lives in the tragic incident as people of faith who knew the God they served.
At about 5pm, yesterday, rescue operation was still ongoing. Vanguard gathered that between the early hours of yesterday when rescue workers resumed operation at the scene and 9.43 am, 28 persons were rescued from the rubble. Six of them were reportedly rescued alive while 22 were brought out dead.
At about 11.30am, the corpse of a woman was recovered. Barely three hours later, another body was reportedly removed from the debris. Again, at 4.35pm, a female dead body was brought out by rescue workers.
South West Spokes person of the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, Ibrahim Farinloye said: “ As at now, 4.30pm, a total of 139 persons have been rescued alive while 44 are dead. 80 per cent of the rescued are women”.