By DOH JAMES SONKEY
The Catholic family in Yaounde in particular and the population in general is in shock and pains, following the passing away of two Christians, when the Minkan Parish roof and wall under construction in the Yaoundé IV District crashed on Christians, as they gathered for prayers last October 17, 2018.
While the two Christians; Apolline Menkene and Elisabeth Bekono Mbarga unfortunately did not survive the incident, four others who incurred serious wounds were rushed to the Yaoundé Central Hospital for immediate medical attention.
According to the Minkan Parish official, Adalbert Eloundou Ndoung Mvé, at the time the church collapsed, the Rosary prayer group, a preacher and some Christians were in deep prayers.
An eye-witness recounts that “on that Wednesday, it rained cats and dogs in Minkan as from 4:30pm and during such rains, the old parish building which was enclosed by the new one we are constructing was completely brought down by the heavy downpour thereby causing the back wall of the new one to collapse as well on the presbytery and on cars parked behind the church.”
Since then, inhabitants of the nation’s capital still gripped by consternation have been converging on the Minkan Parish to pay their individual condolences to the church and the bereaved families and to find out for themselves what really happened.
An emissary of the Yaoundé Arch Diocese, Father Tade Abena was seen at the Minkan Parish condoling with bereaved Christians and families following the painful incident in the House of God.
Elements of the Fire Fighting Brigade joined by some volunteers continued search on the scene to ensure that no other corpse was abandoned under the collapsed blocks.