Tragedy struck the Okija community in Anambra state on Saturday morning as an unconfirmed number of residents lost their lives during a stampede at a rice distribution event.
The victims were predominantly women, with multiple social media videos showing lifeless bodies scattered on the ground in the aftermath of the incident. Some survivors have reportedly been rushed to nearby hospitals for medical attention.
Charles Aburime, chief press secretary to the Anambra state governor, confirmed the occurrence and stated that the state government is closely monitoring the situation.
The heartbreaking incident comes just days after a similar tragedy in Ibadan, Oyo state, where over 35 people, mostly children, died in a stampede during a carnival.
This latest event raises concerns about crowd management and safety at public gatherings, especially during events involving the distribution of essential items amid the country’s economic hardship.
Watch the video below …
The scenes from Okija is not looking good at all, over 20 people died while trying to a bag of Rice😠https://t.co/YPPXsn9DkL pic.twitter.com/dLHQISWjbn
— Chudé (@chude__) December 21, 2024
