31 dead in church fair stampede in southern Nigeria: Police
Abuja, May 28: A stampede Saturday at a church charity sale in southern Nigeria left 31 people dead, police said, a shocking development at an event that organisers said aimed to "offer hope" to the needy.
The stampede at the programme organised by the Kings Assembly pentecostal church in Rivers state involved many people who were seeking assistance, according to Grace Iringe-Koko, a police spokesperson in the state.
Many of the victims came to benefit from an annual Shop for Free charity programme organised by the church. Such events are common in Nigeria, Africa's largest economy, where more than 80 million people live in poverty, according to government statistics.
Saturday's charity programme was supposed to begin at 9 a.m. but dozens arrived as early as 5 a.m. to secure their place in line, Iringe-Koko told The Associated Press.
Somehow they broke open the locked gate, she said, noting that in addition to the deaths, seven other people were injured but responding to treatment.
Videos from the scene showed the clothing and shoes meant for the beneficiaries. Doctors and emergency workers treated some of the injured as they lay in the open field.
The Shop for Free event was suspended while authorities investigated how the stampede occurred.
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Pedestrian dies after hit-and-run near Kuttar in Ullal
Ullal: A 50-year-old man died after being hit by an unidentified vehicle while crossing the road near Kuttar on Tuesday night.
The deceased has been identified as Dinesh Gatti (50) of Mundoli. According to police sources, the accident occurred when he was crossing the Madani Nagar Main Road.
Gatti sustained serious injuries in the collision and was immediately rushed to a hospital for treatment. However, he succumbed to his injuries on Wednesday.
The vehicle involved in the accident reportedly fled the scene soon after the incident.
Gatti was an agriculturist and is survived by his wife and two children.
Local traffic police have registered a case and investigation is under way.
