Youngsters amongst 31 killed at church fair stampede in Nigeria

ABUJA, Nigeria -- A stampede Saturday at a church charity occasion in southern Nigeria left 31 folks lifeless and seven injured, police told The Associated Press, a surprising growth at a program that aimed to offer hope to the needy. One witness mentioned the dead included a pregnant girl and plenty of youngsters.

The stampede at the event organized by the Kings Meeting Pentecostal church in Rivers state concerned people who got here to the church’s annual “Shop for Free” charity program, in accordance with Grace Iringe-Koko, a police spokeswoman.

Such occasions are common in Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy, the place more than 80 million people dwell in poverty, in line with government statistics.

Saturday’s charity program was supposed to begin at 9 a.m. but dozens arrived as early as 5 a.m. to safe their place in line, Iringe-Koko said. In some way the locked gate was damaged open, making a stampede, she stated.

Godwin Tepikor from Nigeria’s Nationwide Emergency Management Company stated first responders were in a position to evacuate the our bodies of these trampled to dying and convey them to the morgue. Safety forces cordoned off the area.

Dozens of residents later thronged the scene, mourning the useless and offering any help they may to emergency workers. Docs and emergency workers treated among the injured as they lay within the open field. Videos from the scene confirmed the clothing, shoes and different items meant for the beneficiaries.

One witness who solely recognized himself as Daniel mentioned "there have been so many children” among the dead. Five of the useless youngsters have been from one mother, he advised the AP, adding that a pregnant lady also misplaced her life.

Some church members were attacked and injured by family of the victims after the stampede, based on witness Christopher Eze. The church declined to touch upon the situation.

The police spokeswoman said the seven injured have been “responding to treatment."

The “Shop for Free” occasion was suspended while authorities investigated how the stampede occurred.

Nigeria has seen comparable stampedes previously.

Twenty-four folks died at an overcrowded church gathering within the southeastern state of Anambra in 2013, whereas not less than 16 individuals have been killed in 2014 when a crowd got uncontrolled throughout a screening for government jobs within the nation's capital, Abuja.

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Associated Press journalist Hilary Uguru in Warri, Nigeria, contributed.