The Redeemed Christian Church of God parish, Living Water Parish in Ibafo, Ogun State, have embarked on marathon fasting and prayers since Monday as the parish pastor is reported to have been stuck inside the Ikoyi collapsed building with 22 of his workers.
The pastor, Engineer Ola Ogunfuwa, and 22 of his work colleagues are among those trapped in the debris even after scores have been rescued.
The pastor, who is in charge of the Living Water Parish in Ibafo, Ogun State, is said to be working as a contractor on the project, but he has not been heard from or been identified among those rescued or brought out lifeless.
A friend of the Ogunfuwa and an RCCG pastor, Omotosho Shola Emmanuel, confirmed to PUNCH that the victim doubled as an engineer and he came with 22 other artisans, comprising of bricklayers and welders, from Ibafo to work in the building.
He said, “I am here this morning because one of my pastor friends is working here, he is an engineer. He came with about 22 people all the way from Ibafo (Ogun State) to work here; labourers, bricklayers, welders, about 22 different guys that came together with him to work on the project.
“Till now, out of those that have been rescued, we’ve not seen any of those 22 and he himself is still there because we learnt that yesterday, at break time, he came out to eat but as he was about washing his hands to eat, he was summoned by one of his bosses and he went back inside but about five to ten minutes later,, the collapsed and he was trapped.
“He is still there now and we pray that God will have his way upon those still there.
“As a church, we prayed all through yesterday night and we’re still believing that there is nothing God cannot do because we know that people are still many there, they said they are over 50.
“The ones they’ve rescued are not up to ten, definitely we are still expecting more people to be rescued,” he added praying God will bring more survivors out.
Since the rescue operations on the collapsed building on Gerard Road began, no rescued person has been identified and they have been taken to an undisclosed hospital.