Two Dead & Dozens Injured In Stampede At Akwa Ibom New Stadium

According to a report on Premium Times, two people are feared dead while 20 others suffered various degrees of injuries during a stampede at the inauguration ceremony of a new stadium in Akwa Ibom State. It is not clear yet what caused the stampede but an international friendly between the home-based senior national team of Nigeria, Super Eagles B, and the U-23 National Team of Ghana, the Black Meteors, was fixed to mark the ceremony.

“It is possible football fans were scrambling to enter the stadium to watch the match. That’s what I heard,” an Uyo resident, who said he is on his way to the facility, said.

But while the NAN correspondent at the stadium reported a stampede, the state Commissioner of Police, Isaac Achong, 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.

The President of Ghana, John Mahama and the Ivorian Head of State, Alassane Ouattara were all expected in Uyo to open the new edifice.

Apart from Presidents Jonathan, Mahama and Ouattara, a number of governors from across Nigeria are expected, while the President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Melvin Pinnick and some Executive Committee members and Management staff arrived Uyo on Thursday evening.