L-R: Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, President Goodluck Jonathan, Vice President Namadi
THE Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential campaign in the South-South geo-political zone was on Saturday marred by a stampede that led to the death of, at least, 20 persons.
No fewer than 25 other persons were injured during the rush at the rally, which took place at the Liberation Stadium in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
It was gathered that the commotion, which took place at one of the two gates of the stadium, was caused by the refusal of security operatives to open the gate for those who wanted to leave the arena through the main exit points, while President Goodluck Jonathan was still addressing the crowd.
An eyewitness told GidiGlobeTEAM that while initial entreaties to the security agents who were mainly soldiers, police and operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps were rebuffed, they (security agents) decided to open the gate when another group of supporters surged towards the gate.
Some of those who streamed to the stadium decided to leave after confirming that their governorship candidates had been presented with flags.
The matter, according to another eyewitness account, was made worse when a policeman shot into the air to disperse the surging crowd, a development that made people at the gate push and trample on one another.
Many of the casualties were elderly women who came to show their support for their governors and the President.
Apart from the corpses that were seen on the ground at the front of the main gate to the stadium, shoes and slippers belonging to victims littered all over the place, while those who fainted as a result of the stampede were being revived by well-meaning Nigerians.
“It is surprising that this kind of thing could happen here. Two vehicles had already taken some of the corpses to the mortuary, while some are still lying dead on the ground,” a PDP supporter, who preferred anonymity said.
Speaking on the incident, the State Police Public Relations Officer, Dr. Rita Inoma-Abbey, who confirmed the incident, told SUNDAY PUNCH that the identities and numbers of the casualties were still unknown.
Inoma-Abbey said, “Today at about 2.50pm at the Liberation Stadium, Elekahia during the presidential campaign flag off for the South-South zone, lots of jubilant supporters were exiting the main gate that their governors have been given the PDP flags.
“Those coming in were pushing and those exiting were pushing their way out. In the ensuing stampede, so many people fell down. The police mounted troop, Police Mobile Force and other security agents contained the push by closing the main gate to rescue the victims.
“Some were taken to the Police Clinic with police ambulance, while some were taken to Teme Clinic and Braithwaite Memorial Hospital for treatment.”
Earlier, a presidential convoy that was on its way to the stadium was involved in an accident that claimed the lives of two persons.
The two unidentified persons, who were occupants of a Prado Jeep with Bayelsa number plate AX 176 KMK, reportedly rammed into a stationary truck on Port Harcourt-Aba Road.
Meanwhile, President Jonathan has ordered a full-scale investigation into the causes of the stampede.
The President in a statement signed by his Senior Special Adviser (Media), Mr. Ima Niboro, said the incident was “unfortunate and regrettable.”
Niboro said the President was not only mourning with the families of the victims but also heavily weighed down by the incident.
The statement reads, “President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has received with shock and sadness, news of the unfortunate loss of some lives due to a stampede at the Port Harcourt Liberation Stadium, during the flag off of the South-South Presidential campaign.
“The President mourns with the families of the deceased, and prays the almighty to grant repose to their souls.
“President Jonathan notes with a heavy heart, that these are persons who came to celebrate his success at the primaries of the PDP, and wish him well in the coming elections.
“I am sad, and heavily weighed down by this incident. It is sad, unfortunate and regrettable. I mourn with those who mourn tonight. May God grant us all the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss,” he said.
“The president has directed a full scale investigation into the cause of the stampede that led to the unfortunate loss of some lives.”
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