Anambra and Avoidable Deaths at Christmas

David-Chyddy Eleke reports that last weekend’s unfortunate death of no fewer than 22 persons in Okija, Anambra State during a stampede in the wake of the distribution of Christmas rice by a foundation was avoidable.

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ast Saturday, scores of people presumed to be indigents lost their lives in Okija community in Anambra State. The real number of those who lost their lives have not been actually ascertained. While initial figure was put at 19, based on the number of corpses brought into Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital mortuary located within the community, it was later said the number increased. Eyewitnesses said the number was over 30, but police authorities in the state said the number was not above 22.

At Christmas, it is typical in Anambra state to see well to do individuals engaging in massive philanthropy, which involves sharing of food items, household items and cash. Considering that rice has become a major food item during Christmas, many of this philanthropists share bags of rice among people in their communities.

It was during this show of love in this season of Christmas that a deluge of people assembled at Amaranta Stadium in Okija for the distribution of rice and other food items, including cash, when the stampede happened. Rice distribution by Obikajackson Foundation, which is founded by foremost businessman, Dr Ernest Azudialo Obiejesi is a tradition that many people in his community, Okija and other surrounding communities earnestly await. Just like those of other philanthropists in the state, rice distribution is usually a massive show of love.

According to sources, the stampede occurred when all attempt to get the people to maintain orderly distribution of the product failed, as each person scrambled to get to the distribution point, apparently to be among the first set of people to receive their own. It was at this point that the stampede occurred, with many women, aged and young trampled upon by stronger persons.

A source at the venue who first spoke to THISDAY said: “Right now, we already have 19 corpses at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital morgue. The organizers should have been more prepared. They should have ensured that the crowd was managed properly to avoid such a tragedy.”

There was however discrepancies in the casualty figure. While some  people put the figure at 19, it was said to have risen when more people were brought into the morgue, moving it to about 29. Some people in the community said the number of dead people were just uncountable, saying they could be more that 30 or even up to 50. But police authorities in the state in a press release by the spokesperson of the command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga said the Commissioner of Police, CP Nnaghe Obono Itam visited the victims in the hospital and condoled with the families and friends of those who lost their lives.

Ikenga said: “The Commissioner of Police, Nnaghe Obono Itam visited the hospital where the victims of the tragic stampede that occurred on 21/12/2024 in Okija, Ihiala local government area, are receiving treatment and regrettably observed that 22 people lost their lives.”

He said investigation into the unfortunate incident is still ongoing, and that police remains dedicated to ensuring the safety and well-being of Ndi Anambra on crime prevention, responding promptly and effectively to emergencies, protecting vulnerable populations and fostering a sense of security and community.

The Obijackson Foundation has also joined police in pledging to investigate the cause of the incident. In an unsigned press release made with the letter head of the foundation, it said: “The event, a cherished tradition aimed at supporting the less privileged during the Yuletide season, turned somber when an unfortunate stampede claimed lives and left several families grieving.

“The annual rice sharing event is a labor of love, aimed at bringing joy and relief to those in need. That it resulted in such sorrow is devastating beyond words. We pledge to investigate the circumstances surrounding the tragedy thoroughly and to implement enhanced safety measures for future events.

“We humbly seek the understanding of our community as we reflect on this painful moment. This setback will not deter us from our mission to serve the vulnerable and uplift those in need. We will learn from this experience and strive to do better. We extend our condolences to Governor Chukwuma Soludo, the bereaved families, and the entire Okija community, this tragedy breaks our hearts.”

True to its words in bringing succour to the less privileged, THISDAY gathered from sources that the sharing of the products including cash gift continued to the less privileged, with better crowd control, even though the entire event left both the foundation officials who were giving and the beneficiaries very sober, unlike other years when the events were heralded with fanfare.

The foundation added that: “We commend the swift response of security personnel and rescue workers, whose efforts helped mitigate the impact of the incident. As the community mourns, the Foundation reiterates its commitment to supporting those affected and continuing its charitable endeavors in more controlled and secure ways. The tragedy has cast a shadow over what is usually a joyous season in Okija, but the Obijackson Foundation remains steadfast in its resolve to serve the less privileged.

Flowing from the incident, Anambra State government has marshalled out what could be termed guidelines in the distribution of palliatives to indigent people to avoid further occurrence. In a press release by Governor Soludo, which was signed on his behalf by his Press Secretary, Mr Christian Aburime, the release read: “In his expression of sympathy, Anambra State Governor,  Professor Soludo, extends his deepest condolences to the families of the deceased, especially the women, the elderly, pregnant, nursing mothers and children who lost their lives in this unfortunate incident.

“The State Government has also implored all well-meaning individuals and organisations engaged in charitable activities to prioritise the safety and well-being of beneficiaries. The resulting tragedy underscores the urgent need for a more structured and safer approach to distributing such assistance.”

As a way of heeding to the governor’s advice in prioritizing the safety of people in the distribution of food items, THISDAY gathered that many philanthropists have suspended events earlier scheduled for distribution of food items to people in their communities.

One of them, Mr Linus Ifejika, a crypto currency trader and owner of BLord Group of companies has announced a new sharing formula for the distribution of his palliatives.

Last year, Ifejika who is popularly known as BLord opened the gate of his Ebenebe mansion in Awka North Local Government Area, where he shared thousands of bags of rice to indigent people in the community.

But as a result of Saturday’s incident, and others, BLord in a social media broadcast said: “Due to the incidences of stampede that have been witnessed recently, I have decided to cancel the distribution of 1,000 bags of rice in my compound in Ebenebe, Anambra State, this Christmas. The reason for this is fear of stampede. Instead, I will allocate 125 bags to each of the eight villages that make up Ebenebe, and also give each of them a cow, yams and kegs of palm oil. Let nobody come to my house, stampede is the beginning of wisdom. There is hunger in the land,” the philanthropist said.

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