dpa
Lagos
Thirty-one people were killed and seven more were injured during a stampede at a church event in southern Nigeria, police said on Saturday.
"The stampede involved a large crowd that turned up to receive free food donations,” a police spokesperson in Rivers State, Grace Iringe-Koko, told dpa.
Initial reports indicate that there was pushing in the crowd before the event started in the city of Port Harcourt, which then triggered the stampede, she said.
She said an investigation was under way and a report would be released in due course.
Local media outlet Punch reported earlier that scores of people had gathered for The Kings Assembly "Shop for Free” charity event, held at the Port Harcourt Polo Club, with many queueing outside the venue from Friday.
The dead and injured were reportedly taken to the nearby Port Harcourt Military Hospital.
According to Punch, the incident came about while the church was hosting its fourth session to distribute gifts and food items.
Similar stampedes have occurred in the past. Seven people died in north east Nigeria last July when a humanitarian organization donated free food items.
Lagos
Thirty-one people were killed and seven more were injured during a stampede at a church event in southern Nigeria, police said on Saturday.
"The stampede involved a large crowd that turned up to receive free food donations,” a police spokesperson in Rivers State, Grace Iringe-Koko, told dpa.
Initial reports indicate that there was pushing in the crowd before the event started in the city of Port Harcourt, which then triggered the stampede, she said.
She said an investigation was under way and a report would be released in due course.
Local media outlet Punch reported earlier that scores of people had gathered for The Kings Assembly "Shop for Free” charity event, held at the Port Harcourt Polo Club, with many queueing outside the venue from Friday.
The dead and injured were reportedly taken to the nearby Port Harcourt Military Hospital.
According to Punch, the incident came about while the church was hosting its fourth session to distribute gifts and food items.
Similar stampedes have occurred in the past. Seven people died in north east Nigeria last July when a humanitarian organization donated free food items.