Youngsters among 31 killed at church truthful stampede in Nigeria

ABUJA, Nigeria -- A stampede Saturday at a church charity event in southern Nigeria left 31 people dead and seven injured, police informed The Related Press, a stunning development at a program that aimed to offer hope to the needy. One witness stated the dead included a pregnant woman and plenty of kids.

The stampede at the event organized by the Kings Assembly Pentecostal church in Rivers state involved individuals who came to the church’s annual “Shop for Free” charity program, in keeping with Grace Iringe-Koko, a police spokeswoman.

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

Saturday’s charity program was supposed to start at 9 a.m. however dozens arrived as early as 5 a.m. to secure their place in line, Iringe-Koko stated. One way or the other the locked gate was broken open, creating a stampede, she stated.

Godwin Tepikor from Nigeria’s Nationwide Emergency Administration Company mentioned first responders were in a position to evacuate the our bodies of those trampled to death and convey them to the morgue. Security forces cordoned off the world.

Dozens of residents later thronged the scene, mourning the dead and providing any help they may to emergency staff. Docs and emergency workers treated a number of the injured as they lay in the open subject. Videos from the scene showed the clothing, shoes and other gadgets meant for the beneficiaries.

One witness who only recognized himself as Daniel mentioned "there were so many children” among the many dead. Five of the dead youngsters were from one mother, he informed the AP, adding that a pregnant woman additionally misplaced her life.

Some church members have been attacked and injured by family members of the victims after the stampede, in line with witness Christopher Eze. The church declined to comment on the state of affairs.

The police spokeswoman mentioned the seven injured were “responding to treatment."

The “Shop for Free” event was suspended whereas authorities investigated how the stampede occurred.

Nigeria has seen comparable stampedes prior to now.

Twenty-four people died at an overcrowded church gathering within the southeastern state of Anambra in 2013, whereas at least 16 folks have been killed in 2014 when a crowd bought uncontrolled throughout a screening for presidency jobs in the nation's capital, Abuja.

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