Abia Police probe deaths in a tragic stampede during the Catholic Diocese of Aba’s Feast Day procession, which left several worshippers dead and others injured.

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Abia State Police Command has launched an investigation into the tragic death of several worshippers during the Catholic Diocese of Aba’s Diocesan Feast Day celebration on Sunday, November 23, 2024.

More than four people were feared trampled to death in the incident, with reports indicating that at least 13 children were also hospitalised after the stampede, which occurred during the Eucharistic procession.

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Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Maureen Chinaka, confirmed that the matter is under investigation.

While the church did not release official figures on the casualties, Catholic Bishop of Aba, Augustine Ndubueze Echema, acknowledged the fatalities in a statement, referring to the tragedy as a “most tragic” end to the annual celebration, which is held on the 34th Sunday of the Church year.

The Bishop’s statement expressed deep sorrow, stating, “Some of our devout and gallant Catholics, who trooped out, as usual, to join the annual Eucharistic Procession in a joyful mood, met their death as a result of overcrowding during the procession.”

The Bishop further noted that investigations were ongoing to determine the identities of the victims and the cause of the incident.

“We condole with the deceased families and sympathise with those injured, who are still recovering in the hospital. We pray for their quick recovery,” Echema wrote.

He also assured that the church would provide support to the affected families and stressed that such a tragedy would not happen again in the future.

This tragic event marked the first fatality in the history of the Christ the King Procession in Aba, with the church pledging to take necessary measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.

“We shall do everything possible in the future to forestall such a tragedy,” the Bishop assured the congregation.

Sources from the area suggested that the victims were mostly elderly women, aged 50 and above, and attributed the deaths to exhaustion from fatigue, thirst, and prolonged exposure to the hot weather during the procession.

It was also reported that two women who died could not be identified as they had no personal identification or mobile phones on them.

As the police continue their investigation, the community and church leaders are left grappling with the shock of the incident and the subsequent loss of life during what was meant to be a joyful and celebratory occasion.