The Rivers state Police command have confirmed the death of 31 persons in a Church stampede.
The deaths occurred at an outreach programme organised by Kings Assembly, in Port Harcourt on Saturday morning.
The church was said to have invited members to partake in the event where food items would be served.
The acting spokesperson of the Command, SP Grace Iringe-Koko confirmed the 31 deaths, saying the church had organised the outreach to give out palliatives to the underprivileged before the unexpected occurred.
“It was 31 persons that died. It was a stampede because a church was trying to give out palliative. They were about to start the event. It was to start by 9am or so. But some persons we went there and broke into the place and went inside.
“So people started rushing in and there was a stampede. From the information we have, the church was trying to gift items and food to assist the underprivileged. Meanwhile, investigation has commenced to ascertain the remote and immediate causes of the incident,” Iringe-Koko stated.
