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Dozens killed in stampede at church event in Nigeria

Sunday, 29 May 2022 7:01 AM [ Last Update: Sunday, 29 May 2022 7:01 AM ]

The annual “Shop For Free” charity event ended up with more than 30 dead and seven injured in Nigeria's Port Harcourt. (File Photo)

A stampede at a church charity event in southern Nigeria’s Port Harcourt city killed more than 30 people on Saturday, according to officials.

The annual “Shop For Free” event was organized by the Kings Assembly Pentecosatal Church in Rivers State to help the millions of Nigerians who live in poverty.

The incident happened when hundreds of people, who had turned up to receive food, broke through a small gate behind the church, causing the stampede.

At least 31 people, including children, were killed and seven others were injured, according to police spokesperson Grace Iringe-Koko.

“People were there earlier and some got impatient and started rushing, which led to stampeding. The police are on the ground monitoring the situation while the investigation is ongoing,” Iringe-Koko told Reuters.

Meanwhile, “witnesses say the number could be higher than the official figure given by police," said Al Jazeera’s Fidelis Mbah.

"A similar incident also happened in December 2020 after a business organisation tried to give out donations to poor people in Port Harcourt,” Mbah said.

“About eight people were killed in that incident. The government has called for an investigation to find out whether adequate security measures were put in place to ensure such incidents do not happen again,” he added.

Despite being Africa’s largest economy, and the continent’s largest petroleum producer, Nigeria still relies on charity events to feed and dress the poor which account for over 35 percent of the its total population.

The situation is deteriorating as the cost of fuel and food has been rising in recent months due to the Ukraine crisis.

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