Two dead in Rivers stampede over Christmas package

Etim Ekpimah

Four persons were feared dead and many others injured during scramble for Christmas palliatives on Tuesday morning at the Rumuodara community in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

It was gathered that people in and around the community had stormed an event centre in the area where INKSNATION, a non-governmental organization, was distributing items to its members from Ikwerre, Emohua and Obio/Akpor Local Government Areas of the state as early as 8 am.

It was also gathered that poor crowd management and the surge of persons, who were not invited, caused the stampede which led to the trampling of four people dead while others injured.

The Rivers Police Command confirmed the incident but said that only two persons died in the stampede.

“I can confirm the incident of this morning, at an Event centre, along the Rumuodara axis of the East/West Road, Obio/Akpor LGA, where palliatives were being distributed by INKSNATION, a Non-Governmental Organisation to her registered members from Ikwerre, Emohua and Obio/Akpor Local Government Areas, when suddenly there was a stampede leading to the death of two people, while some sustained various degrees of injuries and are currently receiving medical attention.

“Meanwhile the situation is under control. The Commissioner of Police, CP Joseph G Mukan has instituted an immediate probe into the unfortunate incident with a view to ascertaining the circumstances and bringing persons found culpable to Justice,” Nnamdi Omoni, the police public relations officer said in a statement to journalists.