31 persons died in a stampede at a church program

A pentecostal church in Port harcourt organized an outreach program and the Rivers State Police Command has said a total of 31 persons died during a stampede at the venue of the program on Saturday morning.

The church, known as Kings Assembly, located in the GRA area of Port Harcourt, but the event was held at the Port Harcourt Polo Club, was said to have invited members to partake in the event where gift items and food were promised to be shared.

The acting spokesperson for the state Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the 31 deaths, saying the church had organised the outreach to give out palliatives to the underprivileged in society before the unexpected occurred.

“It is 31 persons that died. It was a stampede because a church was trying to give out palliatives.

“They were about to start the event by 9am or so. But some persons went there and broke into the place and went inside.

“So people started rushing in and there was a stampede.

“From the information we have, the church was trying to gift items and food to assist the underprivileged.

“Meanwhile, investigation has commenced to ascertain the remote and immediate causes of the incident,” Iringe-Koko, a Superintendent of Police, stated.