No less than 20 persons are feared dead in a stampede at a Church in Port Harcourt Rivers state capital on May 28, 2022.
An eyewitness disclosed that the incident took place during another edition of the church’s gift and food distribution to the general public.
According to the eye witness, some of the invitees arrived on Friday while others came in as early as 6:30am on May 28 for an event which was meant to kickstart by 9am.
The witness stated further that those in charge of the sports session arrived at about 8am and opened a small gate which gave the massive crowd an opportunity to force their way into the premises at once, resulting in the stampede.
“The incident happened this morning. The church invited people for it’s fourth edition of food and gift items distribution.
Some came since Friday while many others came as early as 6.30am on Saturday.
“Those who were engaged in sporting activities opened the small gate and the surging crowd wanted to gain access through the small gate and got stampeded. I counted about 21 one dead bodies on the ground,” he said.
He said many victims had been taken to an undisclosed hospital in Port Harcourt.
The church is however yet to give an official statement regarding the incident.
The Rivers state Police command Public Relations Officer, Iringe Grace Koko when contacted said that she was on her way to the scene of the incident to get accurate information.
