22 die in rural Nigeria Catholic church collapse

KADUNA, Nigeria ? A government spokesman says 22 people were killed and 36 were injured when the roof of a Catholic church in rural Nigeria collapsed during services.

Benue state spokesman Cletus Akwaya said Monday that the collapse happened Saturday night at St. Robert's Catholic Church in the village of Adamgbe. Police and emergency services in Nigeria, already largely limited, had difficulty reaching the village.

Akwaya said the collapse happened when worshippers at the Easter vigil rushed inside during a rainstorm.

A national emergency management spokesman said he had no details about the collapse. Police officials could not be reached for comment.

Building collapses regularly occur in oil-rich Nigeria, as lax government oversight and shoddy workmanship often sees substandard cement used in projects.

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