•Obi, Ngige, DIGs visit scene, victims
•Govt vows to probe incident
•Police launch investigation
HOLY Ghost Night vigil, one of the most popular faith healing gatherings in Anambra state, ended on a tragic note yesterday at Uke in Idemili North Local Government area.
Twenty-eight of the participants in this month’s edition of the session laid dead after a stampede.
The state was in a pensive mood yesterday as news of the tragedy spread.
There were conflicting reports about the cause of the stampede.
One version put out by the Chairman, Civil Liberties Organization (CLO) in Anambra state, Comrade Aloysius Attah, stated that trouble started toward the end of the prayer session after a fire spark from the make-shift stall of a fried plantain seller at the ground.
Worshippers, who saw the spark, then shouted ‘fire’ causing a stampede.
People started running for their lives. Many fell in the process and were trampled upon by other fleeing worshippers.
Another version, related by an eye witness who gave his name simply as Kenechukwu, is that paid agents unexpectedly started shouting “Fire’ Fire, Fire,” which triggered off the stampede.
Another source said the stampede was caused by a trader who pushed a female worshipper from stamping on her wares while the struggling woman grabbed other people to avoid falling.
They all went down and those people who did not know what happened began running.
The police could not say immediately what caused it all.
Governor Peter Obi and the APGA candidate in this month’s governorship candidate in the state, Chief Willie Obiano, were at the vigil but left at about 3.30am before the incident some two hours later, witnesses said.
The injured were rushed to hospitals in Onitsha for treatment.
Some of them were said to have regained consciousness.
Governor Obi, the APC governorship candidate, Chris Ngige and two Deputy Inspectors General of Police (DIGs), Kachy Ugorji and Philemon Leha, were among the early callers at the scene and the hospitals.
Hundreds of residents also rushed to the prayer ground and the hospitals to look for their relations among the dead and the survivors.
Obi said that a Panel of Enquiry would be set up immediately to ascertain the immediate and remote causes of the incident.
He said he was heart-broken by the event, which he had personally attended.
The governor said he had returned home satisfied with the rewarding spiritual encounter only to get the shocking news of the stampede.
He consoled the bereaved and said those responsible for the tragedy would be punished under the law, if found or by God if not found by the law enforcement agents.
He cancelled all his engagements for the day.
At the adoration ground, the coordinator of the centre, Achebe Nnadi, told the governor that the confusion was started by shouts of fire when indeed there was none.
The Chief Medical Director of Crown Hospital, Dr.Edwin Emegoakor, who briefed the governor during a visit to the victims, said none of those brought there was dead.
Sixteen of the victims were confirmed to have been taken dead to Immaculate Heart Hospital and nine to St. Charles Borromeo Hospital.
Rev.Father Obinma said he was too shocked to talk to the press.
The weekly programme is organised by Rev. Fr Emmanuel Obinma (Ebubemonso) of the Holy Ghost Adoration Ministry for prayers, healing and spiritual retreat.
The police in the state said they have commenced investigation into the tragedy.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for the command, DSP Emeka Chukwuemeka, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Uke that the police were yet to confirm the number of casualties.
.“The number of deaths cannot be ascertained now until we conclude investigations because some persons who fainted were later resuscitated,” he said.
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