Two persons were feared dead and 20 others
injured in a stampede at the entrance of
Akwa Ibom International Stadium on Friday
during its inauguration.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports
that crowd control was a difficult task in
spite of the road blocks mounted some
kilometres away from the stadium.

Although the spectators got tickets to enable
them access the 30, 000 capacity stadium, the
crowd started thronging the stadium about
five hours ahead of the scheduled time for
the match.

Confirming the incident, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Emem Bassey, told NAN that two unconscious persons were taken to an undisclosed hospital.

“I was told that two persons have been taken
to the hospital; these are perhaps people who
were fighting at the gate in their bid to enter
the stadium,” Dr. Bassey said.

He said that the third unconscious person, a
woman, was revived in the stadium and had
started talking.

“It should be expected; this is the first time
this is happening, everybody is excited,
everybody wants to enter the stadium.
“We have 150 medical personnel in this place
and eight ambulances. All our medical teams
are up and doing and all the clinics are
manned,” Mr. Bassey said.

NAN reports that the security operatives at
some check points were using horse whips
and teargas to control the crowd.
Contacted, the state Commissioner of Police,
Isaac Achong, however said, “there was no
stampede, there was only crowd control. We
are only controlling the crowd entering the
stadium.”

When told that journalists at the stadium
reported a stampede, he said, “I’m not
aware” and terminated the call.

Continue reading @ http://proudlynation.com.ng/2014/11/updated-2-feared-dead-20-injured-in-stampede-at-akwa-ibom-new-stadium/

RIP to them. They just wanted to see transformation.
Ayamlaykorn