Youngsters among 31 killed at church fair stampede in Nigeria

ABUJA, Nigeria -- A stampede Saturday at a church charity occasion in southern Nigeria left 31 people dead and seven injured, police informed The Associated Press, a shocking growth at a program that aimed to offer hope to the needy. One witness stated the useless included a pregnant woman and many children.

The stampede on the event organized by the Kings Meeting Pentecostal church in Rivers state involved people who came to the church’s annual “Shop for Free” charity program, in accordance with Grace Iringe-Koko, a police spokeswoman.

Such occasions are widespread in Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy, the place more than 80 million individuals dwell in poverty, based on government statistics.

Saturday’s charity program was supposed to start at 9 a.m. but dozens arrived as early as 5 a.m. to secure their place in line, Iringe-Koko mentioned. Somehow the locked gate was broken open, creating a stampede, she said.

Godwin Tepikor from Nigeria’s Nationwide Emergency Management Agency said first responders have been capable of evacuate the bodies of these trampled to dying and convey them to the morgue. Safety forces cordoned off the realm.

Dozens of residents later thronged the scene, mourning the dead and offering any help they may to emergency workers. Docs and emergency staff treated a number of the injured as they lay within the open subject. Videos from the scene showed the clothing, sneakers and other items meant for the beneficiaries.

One witness who only recognized himself as Daniel mentioned "there were so many youngsters” among the many lifeless. 5 of the useless children had been from one mom, he informed the AP, including that a pregnant lady additionally lost her life.

Some church members were attacked and injured by family members of the victims after the stampede, in keeping with witness Christopher Eze. The church declined to touch upon the scenario.

The police spokeswoman stated the seven injured have been “responding to therapy."

The “Shop for Free” event was suspended whereas authorities investigated how the stampede occurred.

Nigeria has seen similar stampedes prior to now.

Twenty-four folks died at an overcrowded church gathering in the southeastern state of Anambra in 2013, while at least 16 people have been killed in 2014 when a crowd bought out of control during a screening for presidency jobs in the nation's capital, Abuja.

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Associated Press journalist Hilary Uguru in Warri, Nigeria, contributed.