A tragic stampede at a rice distribution event in Okija, Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, has left 22 people dead, the Anambra State Police Command confirmed on Sunday.
The incident occurred on Saturday during a program organized by the Obijackson Foundation, a charitable organization led by entrepreneur Ernest Obiejesi, popularly known as Obijackson. According to reports, the crowd surged during the rice distribution, resulting in the fatal stampede.
The Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, Nnaghe Obono, visited the hospital where victims were taken and confirmed the casualty figure. He also disclosed that several others sustained injuries, although specific details about their conditions remain undisclosed.
In a statement issued by the Police Command’s spokesperson, Tochukwu Ikenga, condolences were extended to the families of the deceased, and wishes for a swift recovery were conveyed to the injured.
The police assured the public that investigations into the incident are underway to determine the cause of the tragedy and to implement measures to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
This incident adds to a string of recent stampedes in Nigeria. In Ibadan, Oyo State, 35 people—mostly children—died in a stampede at a carnival. Similarly, in Abuja, a church event saw 10 fatalities during a stampede.
The Anambra State Police Command reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring public safety and improving emergency response to avert such disasters in the future.
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