NOT FEWER THAN 31 PERSONS DIE IN RIVERS CHURCH STAMPEDE

The Rivers State Police Command, on Saturday morning, May 28,  2022 announced that a total of 31 persons died during a stampede at the venue of an outreach programme put together by a church called Kings Assembly in Port Harcourt, the state’s capital.

The church was said to have invited members of the public to partake in the event where gift items and foodstuffs were promised to be shared to congregants.

Although, the church is located in the GRA area of Port Harcourt, the event was held at the Port Harcourt Polo Club, a bigger facility to accommodate the anticipated crowd, according to reports.

Grace Iringe-Koko, the acting spokesperson for the state’s police command, confirmed the death of 31 persons, and added that the church had organised the outreach to reach out to the less privileged in society before the unexpected occurred, according to Channels TV.

“31 persons are confirmed dead now. It was a stampede that happened while a church was trying to give out palliatives,” the police spokesperson said.

“They were about to start the event by 9 am but some persons went there, and broke into the place.

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

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

“Meanwhile, investigation has commenced to ascertain the remote and immediate causes of the incident,” the PPRO added.