ANAMBRA, Dec 21 (AGCNewsNet) – A tragic stampede at a rice-sharing event organized by the Obi Jackson Foundation in Okija, Anambra, has left dozens dead and many others hospitalized. The incident occurred on Saturday morning during a Christmas charity program initiated by oil magnate Ernest Obiejesi to distribute rice to the less privileged.

Eyewitnesses described chaotic scenes as participants jostled for access to thousands of 10-kilogram bags of rice, with some attendees reportedly receiving only cups of rice due to the overwhelming crowd. Videos from the aftermath revealed lifeless bodies, predominantly women, sprawled at the site.

Injured individuals were rushed to Our Lady’s Hospital in Okija, but hospital representatives have not yet commented on the situation. The Anambra State Police Command confirmed the incident is under investigation, although further details remain sparse.

A resident told AGCNewsNet that the Christmas charity event is an annual initiative of the Obi Jackson Foundation, which also runs children’s hospitals and educational facilities in Okija, about 100 kilometers south of Awka, the state capital.

The tragedy in Okija follows a similarly fatal stampede at a Christmas charity event in Ibadan earlier this week, where 35 children lost their lives. These incidents have raised concerns over crowd control and safety measures at large-scale charity events in Nigeria.

Efforts to contact Ernest Obiejesi for comments on the incident were unsuccessful at the time of reporting.

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