. Victims mostly Women, children struggling to collect food palliatives
An unspecified number of persons were on Saturday feared dead and several others injured following a stampede that occurred at the gate of the Obijackson Centre, in Okija, in the Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State.
Eye witnesses said the stampede occurred during the sharing of palliatives, including rice, vegetable oil and money.
Most of the victims were said to be women and children who gathered at the gate and were struggling to gain entrance amid a very large and uncontrollable crowd.
A member of the community, Chief Ernest Obiejesi (Obijackson), donated the palliatives.
Many people reportedly collapsed at the scene and were rushed to the hospital. A woman was said to be critically injured.
It was learnt that among the victims was a woman who slumped during the stampede and was rushed to the hospital. But no one could ascertain whether she survived or not.
Shoes and slippers of the victims littered the entrance gate to the venue.
Calm was said to have later been restored, while the distribution of palliatives had also resumed as of the time of filing this report.
Details later…
