₦airaland Forum

The Anambra State Government has expressed deep grief on the tragic loss of lives in the stampede that occurred during a rice-sharing event in Okija town in Ihiala Local Government Area of the state on Saturday.

In his expression of sympathy, Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, CFR, extends his deepest condolences to the families of the deceased, especially the women, the elderly, pregnant, nursing mothers and children who lost their lives in this unfortunate incident.

According to available information, the State Government acknowledged that the Obi Jackson Foundation, led by Chief Ernest Obiejesi, had organised the event with the noble intention of sharing relief materials with less privileged members of the community during this festive season. However, the resulting tragedy underscores the urgent need for a more structured and safer approach to distributing such assistance.

The Anambra State Government in a prompt action on the incident has initiated a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the stampede. The government will work closely with relevant agencies to determine the root causes of this unfortunate event and ensure that any negligence or lapses in safety protocols are duly addressed.

Meanwhile, the State Government has also implored all well-meaning individuals and organisations engaged in charitable activities to prioritise the safety and well-being of beneficiaries.

It is strongly advised that future distributions of relief materials be conducted in a more organised and decentralised manner, with adequate crowd control measures in place. This may include establishing multiple distribution points within the community to reduce overcrowding at a single location; implementing a system to prioritise vulnerable groups such as the elderly, pregnant women, children and people with disabilities; employing trained personnel to manage crowds, ensure orderly queues, and provide assistance to those in need; and conducting public awareness campaigns to educate the public on safety protocols during such events.

Signed:

*Christian Aburime*
Press Secretary to the Governor

December 21, 2024

This is very important going forward.

It is strongly advised that future distributions of relief materials be conducted in a more organised and decentralised manner, with adequate crowd control measures in place.

LegendHero:
This is very important going forward.

The solution is crowd control. But the deeper solution is to solve extreme poverty. So, government should blame itself more than it's blaming the donors.

My take is simple.
Has anybody been arrested for the stampede in Anambra and Abuja? If not, then Olori Silekunola Sijuade must be absolved of what happened in Ibadan.

There is serious hunger everywhere. I felt it from the very first week I came in. Staple foods have become luxuries. Bread, garri, and beans are beyond the reach of the common man. Last night, I bought two loaves of bread and a crate of tiny eggs for #11500. Little wonder people will scramble for whatever they see to get.

Sharingiscaring:
The solution is crowd control. But the deeper solution is to solve extreme poverty. So, government should blame itself more than it's blaming the donors.

Exactly ObiJackson had been doing it for the past 40 years without issue and there is no single Igbo village or family you will go and not find a person from there sharing bags of rice, groundnut oil, tin tomatoes, cow , chicken meats etc this festive season . It is more like an Igbo tradition we have known since childhood from many years ago so what happened at ObiJackson is an exception that suprised everyone maybe due to the current failed state of Nigeria as a country