Retreat tragedy: Relatives of victims bemoan fate

Relatives of the victims of Friday’s tragedy at the Retreat Camp of the Deeper Life Bible Church, located at Eyenkorin on the outskirts of Ilorin, Kwara State, on Sunday lamented the deaths of their relatives.

A section of the auditorium’s roof had been blown off by rainstorm on Friday and later collapsed on some worshippers. The worshippers were attending their Easter Retreat.

Seven people were feared dead. Many other worshippers were said to have also been injured while a pastor who was riding on a motorcycle to donate blood for the injured victims collided with a vehicle on his way and later died before he could be rushed to the hospital by sympathisers.

The mourners, who refused to speak to journalists wore long faces, sobbed intermittently and wiped their faces with handkerchiefs.

But one of them, who pleaded anonymity, whose brother was a victim, said the deceased had lofty plans for his siblings.

She said, “This world can be very agonising and devastating.  I cannot believe that my brother with whom we came here together is dead.  I do not think it is a reality.  It must be a dream.  This is a big blow not only to me but to the other family members.

“He told me how he was working very hard in his business to ensure that we all get university education, and later to assist us to get good employment or start business after graduation.  I cannot understand why we are now going through this ordeal.  But God understands better.”