Thirty-one persons have been confirmed dead by the police during a stampede at the venue of an outreach programme organised by a new generation church in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
WITHIN NIGERIA had reported that many people were feared dead in an early morning stampede which occurred just before the commencement of a programme organised by a new generation church at the Polo Club in Port Harcourt.
The church, known as Kings Assembly, was said to have invited members of the public to partake in the event where gift items and food were promised to be shared to congregants.
The state police acting spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, who confirmed the death of the 31 persons said the church had organised the outreach to give out palliatives to the underprivileged in society before the unexpected occurred.
“It is 31 persons that died. It was a stampede because a church was trying to give out palliatives.
“They were about to start the event by 9am or so. But some persons went there and broke into the place and went inside.
“So people started rushing in and there was a stampede.
“From the information we have, the church was trying to gift items and food to assist the underprivileged.
“Meanwhile, investigation has commenced to ascertain the remote and immediate causes of the incident,” Iringe-Koko, a Superintendent of Police, stated.
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