Gov Peter Obi Fingered in the death of 28 people at Anambra’s Church Crusade Ground
NO fewer than 28 persons, who attended the weekly crusade at the Holy Ghost Adoration Ministry, Uke, in
Idemili North local government area of Anambra State, lost their lives during a stampede at the end of the
ceremony in the early hours of yesterday.
The crusade, organized by Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Obinma for prayers, healing and spiritual retreat, attracts
thousands of people, but the one that was held yesterday on the Feast of All Saints turned tragic.
An eyewitness account blamed the stampede on the governor. The source said the stampede occurred when
Obi started campaigning for his gubernatorial candidate and there were shouts of disapproval, causing his
security aides to fire tear gas into the crowd.
About 100,000 worshipers were said to have attended the crusade because, besides coinciding with the Feast
of All Saints, it was also the first Saturday of the month.
Apart from the dead 25 whose bodies were said to have been deposited at Immaculate Heart Hospital and
Maternity, Nkpor and Charles Borromew Hospital, Onitsha, several others, who sustained various degrees of
injuries, are receiving treatment in various hospitals in Onitsha.
Governor Peter Obi, who attended the crusade in company of 10 persons, including the National Chairman of
All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, Chief Victor Umeh, the candidate of the party in the November 16
governorship election, Chief Willie Obiano, as well as two siblings of the governor however said he left the
crusade ground around 3.30am, before the tragedy.
The Governor said he was heart-broken by the event, he said he went home after the crusade satisfied on the
rewarding spiritual encounter, only to get the news later.
He consoled all those affected one way or the other and said those responsible would be punished if found or
God will punish them if not found.
“When the spiritual director gave me the opportunity to speak, I noticed something unusual as I saw people
carrying the posters of politicians at the adoration ground.
“I have been going for the crusade there and, on this occasion, I stayed for six hours and left. Our vehicles were parked two kilometres
away and this is a place people have been visiting for a long time without any incident.
“It was later that I heard what happened and we are working hard with security agencies to find out those
behind the incident. A holy place should not be a place for playing politics.”
According to another eyewitness, trouble started shortly after the event, when some people started shouting
“fire’ fire, fire,” adding that, in the confusion that ensued, the worshipers started scampering for safety and, in
the process, began to fall on each other.
Another eye witness at St Charles Borromeo Hospital, Onitsha, Chinenye Etinanma, who said he came to visit
her sister who was equally a victim, said she escaped because they were the first set that encountered some
people carrying the placards of politicians at the adoration ground.
While some of the worshippers attributed what happened to sabotage, alleging that some people raised false
alarm of fire, others believed it was an act of God as the people were already on their way out when the
stampede happened.
The governor was among the first group of persons to visit the scene of the incident and the various hospitals
in company of two police Deputy Inspectors General, DIGs, visiting the state, Mr. Philemon Leha and Kachi
Udoji, and the Anambra State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Bala Nassarawa.
Coordinator of the centre, Bro Achebe Nnadi, who was busy entertaining questions from people, said the
problem was caused by a group of people who started shouting ‘fire, fire’ when there was none.
The governor also visited the Archbishop of Onitsha over the matter, although what they discussed was not
made public.
He also said that a panel of enquiry would be set up immediately to ascertain the immediate and remote
causes of the incident.