A devastating stampede occurred on Saturday at a charity food distribution event in Okija, Anambra State, claiming the lives of at least 22 people. The tragedy unfolded at the Obijackson Centre in Amanranta, where bags of rice, vegetable oil, and cash were being distributed to help the local community. The victims were mostly middle-aged women, elderly people, and children who became trapped in the crush as they attempted to enter the venue.
One of the victims, Uchenna Nwaudo, shared his heartbreaking experience. He had warned his wife against attending the event because their young child was unwell, but she went anyway. Nwaudo was at his business in Ihiala when he received the news that there had been a stampede and that his wife had been trampled. When he arrived at the scene, he found his wife’s lifeless body, with their baby still strapped to her back. He managed to rescue the child, but was unable to carry his wife’s body due to the chaos around him. Later, he identified his wife’s body at the mortuary and began making arrangements for her burial.
While Nwaudo didn’t blame the event organizers, he said the crowd’s impatience and the lack of proper crowd control led to the disaster. Many witnesses described the chaotic scene at the entrance when the gate was opened. People rushed forward, and in the process, many were knocked over and trampled. Some survivors, like Ngozi, said they were knocked to the ground by the stampede but were lucky to survive.
Dr. Paul Isioma Ohaguim, President of the Okija Progressives Union, expressed shock at the incident, calling it “very unfortunate.” He mentioned that the exact number of casualties had not yet been confirmed, as different reports gave varying figures. Despite the tragedy, some people still received the food distribution, though the event turned tragic due to poor crowd management.
This tragedy has cast a shadow over the long-standing tradition of charity events in the community, highlighting the need for better safety measures and crowd control at large gatherings.
