ANAMBRA: Stampede death toll rises to 22

The spokesperson for the Anambra State Police Command, Superintendent Tochukwu Ikenga, stated that an investigation into the incident has begun. He also confirmed that those injured are currently receiving medical treatment.

“The Commissioner of Police, Nnaghe Obono Itam, visited the hospital where the victims of the tragic stampede, which occurred on December 21, 2024, in Okija, Ihiala Local Government Area, are being treated. Regrettably, 22 lives were lost,” Ikenga said.

He added, “The CP extends his condolences to the families and friends of the deceased and wishes the injured a speedy recovery.”

The stampede occurred on Saturday during a rice distribution event organized by the Obijackson Foundation at Amaranta Stadium in Okija, Ihiala LGA.

This is not the first recent incident of this nature in Nigeria, as similar tragedies have been reported in Abuja and Oyo State earlier in December.

Shortly before the Anambra incident, a stampede at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama, Abuja, claimed 10 lives.

Days earlier, another stampede at a children’s funfair in Ibadan, Oyo State, led to the deaths of at least 32 children, with six others critically injured.

The recurring stampedes have sparked widespread calls for improved crowd management during large-scale events.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi are among those who have voiced their concerns.

Atiku expressed sorrow over the repeated tragedies. “It is with a heavy heart that I receive yet another heartbreaking report of lives lost in stampedes, this time in Okija, Anambra, and Abuja,” he wrote on his X account.

“Organizers of such events must prioritize safety through proper crowd management.”

Peter Obi linked the incidents to rising hunger and desperation in the country.

“I am deeply saddened by the tragic loss of lives in desperate searches for food,” Obi wrote on his X account.

While he commended the organizers for their charitable efforts, he highlighted the systemic failures that have left many Nigerians struggling to survive.

“These tragedies reflect the harsh economic realities forcing people into dangerous situations in their quest for food and survival,” Obi added.