Stampede In Rivers State Church, Police Comfirms 31 Deaths

A total of 31 persons died during a stampede at the venue of an outreach programme put up by a new generation church in Port Harcourt on Saturday morning according to Rivers State Police Command.

A church, called Kings Assembly, was alleged to have invited members of the public to partake in the event where gift items and food were promised to be shared to church members.

Kings church is located in the GRA area of Port Harcourt, but the event was held at the Port Harcourt Polo Club, a bigger facility to accommodate the much expected crowd.

According to 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 needy and vulnerable in the society before the tragedy 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.

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

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

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