2 killed in Rivers stampede

The Rivers State Police Command has confirmed that two persons lost their lives in a stampede that took place on Tuesday at Inksmarket centre along Rumuodara axis of Port Harcourt.

The victims met their death at the Zone 2 Inksmarket centre at Rumuodara when hundreds of person from three Local Government Areas of Ikwerre, Obio Anpor and Emouha had gathered to collect palliatives from Inksmarket , a Port Harcourt based online marketer.

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Eyewitness said hundreds of the online registered customers had gathered at the collection centre to collect palliatives from the company.

One eyewitness said that the number of persons that had gathered to collect the palliatives over stretched the centre’s facilities. This, according to the source led to the stampede.

The State Police Command Public Relation Officer, Nnmadi Omoni who confirmed the incident said only two persons died.

Omoni said that “the incident occurred when palliatives were being distributed by INKSMARKET, a Non-Governmental Organisation to her registered members from Ikwerre, Emohua and Obio/Akpor Local Government Areas, when suddenly there was a stampede leading to the death of two people, while some sustained various degrees of injuries and are currently receiving medical attention.”

He said that the “situation is under control and the Commissioner of Police has instituted immediate probe into the unfortunate incident with a view to ascertaining the circumstances and bringing persons found culpable to justice.”