Residents of Okija community in Ihiala local government area of Anambra State were on Saturday thrown into mourning following death of yet-to-be confirmed numbers of lives in a stampede.
The stampede reportedly occurred in the morning at the residence of Chief Earnest Azudialo Obiejesi, popularly known as Obi Jackson involved mainly aged and young women, including widows and pregnant women.
The victims were said to have converged in Obi Jackson’s house for the rice palliative as customary every Yuletide season.
Viral videos show lifeless bodies laying on the ground after the incident, while some of the victims have reportedly been taken to nearby hospitals.
An eyewitness who put the death toll at 19 said stampede ensued following large number of persons who were at the venue for the palliative which surpassed previous years exercises.
According to Obinna Okoye, “the multiple deaths of Okija citizens resulted from crowd stampede at ongoing palliatives powered by Okija’s top son, Chief Ernest Obiejesi who made impact in Okija on several fronts.
“His annual Christmas palliative of distribution of free food items attracted mammoth crowds per year. This year is a never before seen crowd that got out of control despite care distribution of cards to intended recipients.
“As at now, over 19 deaths have been recorded and several more injured due to exhaustion.
The victims of the stampede have been deposited at Our Ladies Mortuary, Okija including a mother and daughter who are relatives of Chief Ken Emeakayi, Senior Special Adviser to Governor Chukwuma Soludo on Community Security among others while injured ones have been rushed to undisclosed hospitals for urgent medical attention.
As at the time of filling this report, Police spokesperson, Tochukwu Ikenga was yet to react to the development.
But Press Secretary to the governor, Christian Aburime confirmed the incident, saying the government was monitoring the situation and would soon release a statement.
The incident, coming few days after over 35 people, mostly children, died during a stampede at a carnival in Ibadan, Oyo state capital is the second rice distribution-related mishap this year.
In March, some students of Nasarawa State University, Keffi, were killed in a stampede during distribution of rice donated by the state government.
