A tragic stampede during a rice-sharing event in Okija, Anambra State, has reportedly left several people dead. The incident unfolded on Saturday as a massive crowd gathered to receive free bags of rice distributed to the community.
A video shared on Facebook by Arinzechukwu Nwanonenyi and obtained by Chronicles Reporters captured the aftermath of the chaos. In the video, Nwanonenyi lamented the unfortunate deaths, particularly among women who had assembled to collect the distributed rice.
“It’s heartbreaking. Poverty is devastating. If these women were not struggling financially, they wouldn’t have been there in the first place. God have mercy, and may their souls rest in peace. Amen,” Nwanonenyi said in the post.
The rice distribution was reportedly organized by Obijackson, a prominent figure in the area. However, local authorities have yet to release an official statement confirming the exact number of casualties.
This tragic event highlights the severe economic challenges faced by many residents in Nigeria, where poverty often drives people to desperate situations.
In a related development, Chronicles Reporters previously covered another stampede incident earlier in the week. On Wednesday morning, tragedy struck at the Islamic High School in Bashorun, Ibadan, during a children’s Christmas party. The event, organized by Agidigbo 88.7 FM, Ibadan, and Queen Naomi Silekunola Ogunwusi, ex-wife of the Ooni of Ife, resulted in the deaths of 35 children.
Eyewitnesses in Ibadan reported that several children were trampled during the chaos, with many others injured and currently receiving treatment at the University College Hospital in Ibadan.
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