A woman has died following a stampede at an empowerment programme organised by the wife of the Cross River State governor in Ogoja on Thursday, the state police command has confirmed.
The police spokesperson, Sunday Eitokpah, disclosed the development in a statement issued on Friday, explaining that two women were rescued from the incident and taken to the General Hospital in Ogoja for treatment. However, one of the victims, identified as Mary Oga from Imaje community in Yala Local Government Area, was later confirmed dead.
According to Mr Eitokpah, the incident happened at approximately 3:30 p.m. while the governor’s wife, Eyoanwan Otu, and members of her entourage were attending the event. He explained that the situation reportedly deteriorated as a large crowd gathered in an attempt to obtain the empowerment items distributed at the programme, triggering the stampede.
He said police officers, alongside other security personnel, intervened to manage the crowd and restore calm at the venue. The command, he added, was examining the circumstances surrounding the tragedy, including how the incident unfolded and the effectiveness of the measures taken to control the crowd.
The Commissioner of Police, Ajo Ordue, expressed condolences to the family of the deceased and wished the surviving victim a quick recovery, according to the statement. He also emphasised the importance of effective crowd control, adequate safety provisions and proper coordination in organising public events to prevent similar incidents.
Mr Eitokpah further disclosed that the surviving victim was still receiving medical attention. He noted that an update on her condition would be made available once the information had been verified and was considered appropriate for public disclosure.
