At least twelve people were confirmed dead on Saturday morning in Okija town, Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, during a scramble for Christmas rice.
An estimated thirty-two others sustained varying degrees of injuries in the stampede, which occurred during the distribution of rice organized by a local philanthropist, Chief Earnest Obiejesi, also known as Obi Jackson.
The Nigerian Tribune gathered that the distribution of food items has long been an annual tradition for Obiejesi during festive seasons. It is part of his foundation’s efforts to assist his community and is often accompanied by a large carnival-like atmosphere.
However, this year’s distribution turned tragic as the surging crowd became uncontrollable, resulting in a stampede that claimed twelve lives.
A local resident, who identified himself as Uchenna, stated: “It is not our brother Obi Jackson who caused their deaths, but the crowd that refused to comport themselves. The bags of rice I saw were sufficient for everyone and even more people. However, due to the hunger in the land, many feared the rice might not reach them. This led to the tragic incident, which is very unfortunate.”
Narrating the incident further, Mrs. Maria Okonkwo, who was on her way to the venue, described the scene: “The number of people was overwhelming, and more were still arriving to participate in the rice distribution when people started shouting. The organizers tried to control the crowd, but the situation soon spiraled out of control. Some individuals tried to grab as many bags as possible. When others fell, they were trampled by the surging crowd, leading to the deaths of several individuals.”
“I cannot say exactly how many people died, but it could be around ten or thirteen. Those injured are over thirty, and about six people fainted,” she added.
Efforts to contact the event organizers were unsuccessful, as none of them answered their calls, possibly due to the shock of the incident.
Reacting to the tragedy, the Anambra Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochikwu Ikenga, issued a statement on Saturday. He said, “Anambra State Police Operatives have taken over the scene in Okija, where an alleged stampede occurred in the early hours of today, December 21, 2024, leading to fatalities.”
Preliminary information revealed that a known philanthropist from the Okija community had organized the distribution of palliatives to the less privileged as part of his yearly tradition. Unfortunately, a large, uncontrolled crowd took over the event area before the distribution could commence, resulting in the stampede.
Ikenga added that details about the affected persons are still unclear, but police operatives have taken control of the scene for a proper investigation. Further details will be communicated as the investigation progresses.