The University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, UUTH, has refuted a report in a national newspaper that 200 persons died from the collapsed building belonging to Reigners’ Bible Church International on Saturday in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital.
In a press statement issued and made available to news men in Uyo, the Chief Medical Director of the Hospital described the report as untrue, saying he did not at any time informed the reporter or any other media houses that 200 persons died in the disaster.
The newspaper had quoted the CMD as saying: “Many victims are in private hospitals and mortuaries scattered all over Uyo metropolis; we can’t really tell how many people have died so far. We have over 200 persons in the mortuaries. We do not have space as people are still being brought in.’’
“What I told journalists who were desirous in knowing the casualty figures after the incident was that it would be very difficult for the hospital to ascertain the exact number of deaths and those injured as several others were taken to Annua General Hospital and the Ibom Specialist Hospital.
“On our own part here, we are working round the clock to ensure that those who are seriously injured are given prompt attention,” he said, stressing that the report as written by the reporter “was a figment of the writer’s imagination in order to confuse unsuspecting members of the public.”
The reporter, the CMD said, has been urged to retract the report and tender unreserved apology for causing panic to members of the public through the report, and urged urged the general public to discountenance the said report as necessary measures are being taken to ensure that those injured in the disaster are treated.
