Okija Stampede: Tears as Anambra Police Share Death Figure of Unfortunate Incident
- The police have confirmed that 22 people died in the Okija Christmas rice stampede which happened on Saturday, December 21
- The figure was made known by the state command public relations officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, in a statement obtained by Legit.ng on Sunday, December 22
- In the statement, the police vowed to protect vulnerable populations and foster a sense of security
Legit.ng journalist Ridwan Adeola Yusuf has over 9 years of experience covering public affairs and security matters.
Okija, Anambra state - The police in Anambra have disclosed that 22 people were killed during a stampede in Okija, Ihiala local government area (LGA) of the state.
Tochukwu Ikenga, the police spokesperson in Anambra, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday morning, December 22, obtained by Legit.ng.
The 22 people lost their lives in a crush in Okija town during a charity event on Saturday, December 21. The programme was organised by a philanthropist.
Viral videos that appeared to be from the scene in the southeast state showed lifeless bodies lying on the ground as people shouted for help and cried.
Police provide update on Anambra stampede
Ikenga stated that investigation into the “unfortunate incident” was still ongoing.
The police representative said:
“The police command remains dedicated to ensuring the safety and well-being of Ndi Anambra on crime prevention, responding promptly and effectively to emergencies, protecting vulnerable populations and fostering a sense of security and community."
Furthermore, the police added that some of the injured have been treated and discharged while others continue to receive medical care.
Following the tragedy, President Bola Tinubu cancelled all his official events in Lagos, including his attendance at the 2024 Lagos Boat Regatta.
In the same vein, the inspector general of police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, expressed concerns about the catastrophe. The security chief, therefore, warned organisers of such events to, henceforth, involve his men.
What authorities should do to avoid stampedes - Expert
Sharing his expert perspective, John Andah, executive director of ImpactHouse Centre for Development Communication, said stakeholders across all sectors, including government agencies, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), philanthropists, and corporate donors, "must step up with coordinated and innovative solutions".
Andah, in an interview with Legit.ng, advised the federal and state governments to introduce protocols for public palliative distributions.
He said:
"Government agencies must first take responsibility for creating order out of chaos. The federal ministry of humanitarian affairs and disaster management should immediately implement nationwide protocols for public palliative distributions.
"These protocols should mandate crowd control measures, pre-registration systems, and decentralised distribution points to prevent the clustering of desperate crowds."
Stampede in Ibadan, Oyo state
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that at least 32 people were killed in a stampede at a charity event in Ibadan attended by dozens of masses.
The incident occurred at Islamic high school in Oyo state where up to 5,000 adults and children gathered for assistance.
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Source: Legit.ng