An unconfirmed number of people died on Saturday during a religious programme in Uke, Anambra State, the Anmabra State Police Command has said.
According to spokesman of the Police in the state, Emeka Chukwuemeka, investigations into deaths at the event, presided over by Reverend Father Ebube Muonso, have begun.
“Yes, there was stampede early this morning, some persons are feared dead but the number of persons dead have not been ascertained,” Chukwuemeka said.
There have been insinuations that the spawned by the presence of Governor of the state, Peter Obi, at the event but Emeka could not ascertain this.
However, he said: “I wouldn’t know whether it was when the governor came or after he left but these are issues that would be resolved after the investigation we just launched has ended.”
Chris Ngige, the candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria in this month’s election in the state, laid the blame of the stampede on the doorstep of Obi and Willie Obiano of the All Progressive Grand Alliance.
”Reports reaching me have it that the APGA campaign train, last night went to the Adoration Ground at Ukeh and induced stampede as Obi’s goons charged at worshipers who booed at them for campaigning at the Holy ground,” Ngige wrote on his Facebook wall.
“The priest in charge, Ebube Mmuo Nso had told Obi that the people already knew who to vote for, [they] so should be left alone. Unfortunately, in sheer act of wickedness, Obi’s goons charged at the crowd who booed at them and induced stampede, which led to the untimely death of 15 persons including women and children while wounding many more.”
