28 killed, 200 wounded in Anambra church stampede

No fewer than 28 persons were trampled to death on Saturday during a stampede at the Holy Ghost Adoration Ground, Uke, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State.

More than 100,000 people were said to be gathered at the venue of the incident, with facilities that can hardly take 5,000 people, when the stampede occurred.

The tragic incident has already become political, as the camps of Governor Peter Obi and Senator Chris Ngige are trading blame over the incident.

About 200 victims that survived the stampede were taken hospitals in Onitsha and Nkpor where a lot of them were treated and discharged.

The incident occurred shortly after Governor Peter Obi, the governorship candidate for the All progressives Grand Alliance, Chief Willie Obiano; and the National Chairman of APGA, Chief Victor Umeh, among others left the place after an all-night church programme.

Obi, who later on visited hospitals, where the survivors of the stampede were being attended to, promised to set up a panel to investigate the cause of the stampede.

The Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Emeka Chukwuemeka , confirmed the incident but said he could not give figures or state the cause of the incident because investigations were still going on to establish the cause of the incident.

The Founder and Spiritual Director of the Holy Ghost Adoration Centre, Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Obinma, a Catholic priest popularly called Ebube Mmuonso (the glory of the Holy Ghost), also went round to see and pray for the survivors.

He, however, said he was still too shocked to comment on the incident.