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Photo of palliative seekers courtesy of Saturday Sun
By PAMELA EBOH, Awka
Scores of people are feared dead in Okija, Anambra State, following a stampede during rice sharing in a billionaire businessman’s country home earlier today, Saturday, December 21, 2024.
The rice sharing is said to be a yearly activity sponsored by Chief Obiejesi Azudialu, Founder of Obi Jackson Foundation.
Obiejesi, an indigene of Okija, is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Nestoil.
Though the number of casualty is yet to be confirmed, sources say that over 40 people, mainly women, may have died in the stampede.
A video corroborating the incident which is making its round on social media showed dead bodies of women, young and matured lying on the floor.
The male voice in the video said: “This are dead bodies of people that went to share Obi Jackson rice. All this people lying here are dead, including pregnant woman. They were mashed to death. We are in Our Ladies compound. Many were also injured.”
The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Tochukwu Ikenga, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, could not be reached for confirmation.
