By Ken Chiwendu
No fewer than 17 people have been confirmed dead in Okija, Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, following a stampede.
The incident happened during the distribution of Christmas rice by Obijackson Foundation,Amarata Ohalegbu village,on Saturday.
Sources told current matters that the event is an annual tradition by the Obijackson Foundation which attracts attracting people from across Ihiala and neighboring communities.
It was gathered that the victims, mostly women and youths, had arrived at the facility as early as 5 a.m.in the exercise which began in the day.
The source, further said that the crowd surged as soon as the distribution began , rushing in all directions causing a stampede that resulted in the deaths and severe injuries to many
The victims, including pregnant women, were rushed to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Ihiala.
Earlier on Saturday, a stampede at a Christmas palliative distribution in a Catholic church in Abuja claimed the lives of 10 people and injured several others.
Similarly, a Christmas party for children in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital resulted in the deaths of over 40 children.
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu who is in Lagos for Christmas vacation,has cancelled all engagements in honour of victims of Christmas palliative stampede.
The stampedes are a tragedy too many and reflect the harsh economic situation in the country,many analysts say.
