By Peter Onyekachukwu 
By Peter Onyekachukwu
What was meant to be a peaceful evening of worship turned tragic on Sunday when a church building collapsed on congregants in Mutum-Biyu, headquarters of Gassol Local Government Area of Taraba State, following a torrential downpour and fierce windstorm.
The incident occurred around 3pm at the United Methodist Church of Nigeria (UMCN), located behind the Divisional Police Office, while service was ongoing. Eyewitnesses said worshippers were caught off guard as the heavy rain and wind brought down the structure.
Though no lives were lost, several members of the congregation sustained injuries, with many suffering fractures. Some of the injured were rushed to the Mutum-Biyu Referral Hospital, while those with broken bones were taken to a local traditional bone setter for immediate care.
“I received three people who had fractures, including a small girl. Their bones were badly damaged from the collapse,” said Alhaji Baffa Wanzami, a well-known bone healer in the area. “It was very sad. A church meant to protect people ended up hurting them.”
A resident of the town, Musa Adamu, described the rainstorm as one of the strongest in recent times, adding that the damage extended beyond the church.
“The wind destroyed several houses. This isn’t the first time we are experiencing this kind of devastation, but it’s the first time it’s collapsing a church during service,” he lamented.
Local authorities are yet to release an official statement, but the incident has raised fresh concerns over the structural integrity of buildings in the area and the preparedness of local communities for extreme weather conditions.