CEOAFRICA gathered that not less than 25 deaths were recorded at a stampede which occurred at Holy Ghost Adoration Ground in Uke Idemili North Local council of Anambra State on Saturday, November 2.

According to the report, over a hundred worshippers sustained various degrees of injuries at the mad dash in which dozens of people were trampled among more than 50,000 people present at the church’s vigil, held every first Friday of the month, and presided over by Emmanuel Obinma, a Catholic priest popularly referred to as ‘Ebube Muonso’ (glory of the Holy Spirit).

Report by Uche Ukor, a Reverend Father and Director of Social Communications indicated that the unfortunate stampede which occurred after prayers at the early hours of Saturday was not caused by any interruption.

“The stampede was reportedly caused by a false alarm raised by somebody in the crowd along one of the narrow roads out of the town. The crowd was so much that people wanting to leave all at the same time made it very difficult for people to find enough space to move,” Rev. Fr. Uche Ukor said.

CEOAFRICA also gathered from anonymous reporter that the false alarm was one that alleged a fire disaster purported to have erupted from a roadside bean-cake seller coupled with the struggle among the dense population trying to live the prayer ground at the same time had caused the fatal stampede.

Another report stated that the stampede occurred shortly after Peter Obi, the Anambra State governor; Willie Obiano, the gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA; and Victor Umeh, the party’s National Chairman, who were in attendance left the ground.

Chris Ngige, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, is said to have blamed the stampede on the governor and his people.

“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 worshippers who booed at them for campaigning at the holy ground,” Dr. Ngige is reported to have said in a Facebook post hours after the incident.

Responding to questions from journalists, the church said that it would not delve into whether the incident had political connotation.

Valerian Okeke, the Catholic Archbishop of Onitsha Archdiocese said investigations were ongoing, adding that efforts would be made to protect the lives of all worshippers at the centre and also commending the volunteers, management and staff of the hospitals where the injured were receiving treatment.

However, the state government is said to have set up a panel of enquiry to ascertain the remote and immediate cause of the stampede.