The death toll at the stampede before the food distribution programme organised by a new generation church in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, has risen to 40.
The church known as ‘Kings Assembly’ was said to have invited members of the public to come and receive gift items and food for its fourth anniversary at the Port Harcourt Polo Club.
It was learnt that the large crowd overstretched the venue after the small gate leading into the venue was pushed open on Saturday morning to enable them occupy good positions leading to a stampede.
A source said some of the invitees arrived since Friday evening, while others arrived as early as 6.30am on Saturday morning for an event that was supposed to start by 9am.
He said most of the victims were taken to the nearby military hospital in Port Harcourt.
“It was said that gift items and free food would be served. It is very painful,”
“I counted 31 corpses at the military hospital”, the source who pleaded anonymity stated.
Another source said,” 9 victims were taken to different hospitals where they later died.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Police Command has confirmed that a total of thirty-one persons lost their lives in the stampede.
A statement by the acting spokesperson of the state Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, said the stampede has been brought under control and normalcy restored to the area.
It further said, preliminary investigations conducted by the Command have however revealed that the unfortunate incident occured when the management of Kings Church Assembly organized a crusade which attracted mammoth crowd. It further revealed that there were plans by the church management to give away food and gift items to the less privilege. Unfortunately, the crowd became tumultuous and uncontrollable and all efforts made by the organizers to bring sanity proved abortive hence, the stampede.
“On receipt of the information, the Commissioner of Police immediately drafted adequate police patrol teams to the scene and they were able to restore normalcy. Persons that were injured were swiftly evacuated to the Hospital for immediate medical treatment. Unfortunately, a total of thirty-one persons lost their lives in the stampede.
“Meanwhile, the situation has been brought under control and enough police presence has been put on ground to work with the Command’s safety management officers
The Commissioner of Police, CP Eboka Friday, while condemning the incident, has directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police in-Charge of the State Criminal Investigations Department to carry out discrete investigations into the incident. He further called on religious and charity organizations to ensure they work with the Police for security and crowd control management in organizing their programmes in the future. The CP commiserates with the bereaved families and pray God to comfort and grant them the fortitude to bear the loss”, the statement read.
Similarly, the Rivers State governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, has expressed grief over the loss of lives in the unfortunate stampede incident.
A statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Kelvin Ebiri, said Governor Wike, who is disheartened by the tragedy, mourned the victims and expressed profound condolences to the bereaved families.
“On behalf of the Government and people of Rivers State, I pray for God to grant the bereaved families the fortitude to bear the loss of their loved ones.
“I also pray for the souls of all the faithful departed to rest in perfect peace. And to the injured, I wish them a speedy recovery.”
The governor said the Rivers State government will constitute a probe panel to investigate the incident and details on what transpired.
