The death toll from Saturday’s stampede in Anambra State has climbed to 22, local authorities confirmed on Sunday.
The tragic incident occurred during a rice distribution event organized by the Obijackson Foundation at Amaranta Stadium in Okija, Ihiala Local Government Area. Several injured victims are currently receiving medical care at local hospitals.
Superintendent Tochukwu Ikenga, spokesman for the Anambra State Police Command, stated that an investigation into the cause of the stampede is underway.
“The commissioner of police, Nnaghe Obono Itam, visited the hospital where the victims are receiving treatment and regrettably confirmed that 22 people lost their lives,” Ikenga said. “The CP commiserates with the families and friends of the deceased and wishes the injured a swift recovery.”
The Anambra tragedy is the latest in a series of stampedes that have plagued the nation in recent weeks. Earlier this month, a stampede at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama, Abuja, claimed 10 lives. Days before, a children’s funfair in Ibadan, Oyo State, ended in disaster when a stampede killed at least 35 children and critically injured six others.
The recent string of fatal stampedes has sparked national concern. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi have called for improved crowd management at large-scale events.
Atiku expressed his sorrow over the repeated tragedies, stating on X (formerly Twitter), “It is with a heavy heart that I receive yet another heartbreaking news of lives lost in tragic stampedes… It is imperative that event organizers prioritize the safety and well-being of all participants.”
Peter Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, highlighted the desperation driving these incidents. “I am deeply saddened and distressed by the tragic loss of lives in desperate searches for food,” Obi wrote on X. While appreciating the charitable intentions of the event organizers, he criticized systemic failures that exacerbate economic hardships.
“These tragedies reflect the harsh realities of hunger and poverty in our nation,” Obi stated. “The desperate quest for survival has driven people to extremes, often at the cost of their lives.”
The stampedes have reignited conversations about food insecurity and the urgent need for better crowd control measures at public events.
