Catholic Church Reacts To 28 Death At Anambra Adoration Ground

Directorate of Social Communications Catholic Archdiocese of Onitsha – Nigeria

Press Release

Attn: For Immediate Release
Date: November 03, 2013
From: Rev. Fr. Uche Pius Ukor
Phone: 08037186371
Email: ucheukorfr@yahoo.co.uk

Stampede at Holy Ghost Adoration Centre, Uke, Anambra State

ONITSHA - In the early hours of Saturday, November 02, 2013, there was a stampede moments after prayers at the Holy Ghost Adoration Centre, Uke, in Idemili South LGA of Anambra State. The stampede, which occurred while people were going home, resulted in the loss of some lives. Some are still injured and receiving treatments in some hospitals.

Vigil was usually held at the centre on every first Friday of the month. The crowd at the centre was unprecedented on this first Friday of November 2013 probably because it was the Solemnity of All Saints and a holy day of obligation for Catholic faithful.

Save for the unprecedented crowd, the vigil started and ended normally. The stampede was reportedly caused by a false alarm raised by somebody in the crowd along one of the narrow roads out of the town. The crowd was so much that people wanting to leave all at the same time made it very difficult for people to find enough space to move. This happened in just one of the roads out of the town.

The outpouring of concerns and supports with regard to the incident has been tremendous. The Archbishop of Onitsha, Most Rev. valerian Okeke, is still deeply saddened by this ugly incident. He has visited the dead in the morgue and the injured in the hospitals. His heart goes out to the families and friends of those who lost their lives in the incident. He promises his closeness to them and all the faithful of the Holy Ghost Adoration Centre, Uke, and especially the Spiritual Director of the Centre, Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Obimma, who is hard hit by the ugly incident.

Full investigations have been launched into the matter and more efforts are being made to protect the lives of all worshippers at the centre.

The Archdiocese of Onitsha remains very grateful to the many volunteers who swung into action immediately saving as many lives as possible. We also thank the management and staff of the various hospitals where the injured were sent immediately for treatment. They have been wonderful. We remain grateful to you all for your closeness and sympathies at this difficult moment.

May the dead through the mercy of God rest in peace, amen.

CKN NEWS

Chris Kehinde Nwandu is the Editor In Chief of CKNNEWS || He is a Law graduate and an Alumnus of Lagos State University, Lead City University Ibadan and Nigerian Institute Of Journalism || With over 2 decades practice in Journalism, PR and Advertising, he is a member of several Professional bodies within and outside Nigeria || Member: Institute Of Chartered Arbitrators ( UK ) || Member : Institute of Chartered Mediators And Conciliation || Member : Nigerian Institute Of Public Relations || Member : Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria || Fellow : Institute of Personality Development And Customer Relationship Management || Member and Chairman Board Of Trustees: Guild Of Professional Bloggers of Nigeria

10 Comments

  1. Very sorrowful n may their soul rest in peace. Amen

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  2. Very sad. May God rest their souls.

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  3. May they rest in peace, amen

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  4. God have mercy on them and may they rest in God's bossom, aman

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  5. May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed,through the mercy of God rest in peace.

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  6. What was the false alarm?

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  7. Why the lying? We all know the vigil was turned to. A political campaign ground and it was the clash of the 2 parties that led too the stampede and the loss of those innocent souls. To lie is adding salt to the injury. Where is credibility then, if a supposed man of God can openly tell such a lie as this. If judgment starts in the house of God truly, let God be GOD indeed. RIP to those martyrs, who lost their lives seeking their creator. The ONE you left your homes seeking will surely avenge your blood!

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  8. Why the lying? We all know the vigil was turned to. A political campaign ground and it was the clash of the 2 parties that led too the stampede and the loss of those innocent souls. To lie is adding salt to the injury. Where is credibility then, if a supposed man of God can openly tell such a lie as this. If judgment starts in the house of God truly, let God be GOD indeed. RIP to those martyrs, who lost their lives seeking their creator. The ONE you left your homes seeking will surely avenge your blood!

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    Replies
    1. My brother u heard and u see is a different entity. Stampede caused by alarm raised by people when a woman who was frying akara ball mistakingly pour her oil into Woodford and people where going home. Mind how u address any man of God being from my church or yours. Thanks

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  9. its a pity, r.i.p to those dat lost their lives may God console the bereavd families

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