This AKBC staff, Ubong Thompson, was covering the bishop ordination at Reigners Bible Church when the church building collapsed and killed many.
His heartbroken friends took to Facebook to mourn his death. According to the tribute of one of his friends, she says it’s an agony to imagine Ubong seeing death descending and not able to run out of deaths path, Ubong would rather be more concerned about protecting the Camera from damage than run first for safety.
She wrote:
AN ODE TO UBONG THOMPSON: A CAMERAMAN EXTRAORDINARY.
Calm, resourceful, hardworking, never a word of complain, never a word of gossip, extremely focused on his job.
He died while on duty at the Reigners Bible Church.It is like a personal loss to me. This was a Cameraman I worked with stress free. This was a cameraman I could trust his shots. This was a cameraman whose shot of the most mundane came alive with meaning or beauty on the screen.
You never had to talk much to Ubong. He understood what you wanted on camera with an instinctive calm confidence.Ubong delighted in making people look their best. He delighted in giving meaning and dignity to events, people and places.
A Reporters asset. An asset to the Corporate image. An asset to the state.A loss. A deep, deep loss. It’s an agony to imagine Ubong seeing death descending and not able to run out of deaths path. Ubong would rather be more concerned about protecting the Camera from damage than run first for safety.
Ubong would rather wait for others to leave first than scramble to the exit. Decent young man. Clean, neat, polite, respectful and dignified.
Could Ubong’s good nature have worked against him on that tragic day? Ubong, why didn’t you run? Why didn’t you dive? Why didn’t you….But your voice is forever silenced. We can never know the thoughts that flew through your mind, or your actions on that tragic day.
We only know that someone called your line to be assured of your safety, but a stranger answered your call, saying he just picked the ringing phone from your lifeless body.
We hoped against hope that it was not true. That perhaps your phone found its way into a strangers pocket.We waited to hear the cheering news that you escaped. We hoped to see you again soon with your calm ever ready to work smile, but the news that came was never cheering. Ubong has gone and crossed over to the other side of eternity.
I will miss you Ubong. I will miss the ultra good, near perfect cameraman that you were. Sleep peacefully in God’s loving arms.
May God comfort and console your young wife. Your parents, extended family, your friends and the AKBC family.
Good night my brother, my friend and my very respected colleague.
More photos below:
