By Joshua Tosin Ogunsakin 
At least 17 people were confirmed dead and several others sustained injuries at Okija, Ihiala local government area of Anambra State, following a stampede during the distribution of Christmas rice by officials of Obijackson Foundation on Saturday.
The incident happened at one of Obijackson Foundation facilities at Amarata, Ohalegbu village in Okija.
The Foundation has been distributing such gifts annually for many years and people in the entire Ihiala local government and other neighbouring communities always look forward to it.
According to eyewitnesses, the victims, mostly women and youths, had stationed themselves at the facility as early as 5am on Saturday, waiting for the distribution to begin at daybreak.
The eyewitness said that the crowd became uncontrollable when the distribution began, as they rushed to collect the rice, leading to the stampede.
The dead bodies and those who sustained injuries were rushed to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Ihiala. In a viral video, dead bodies, including pregnant women, littered the vicinity of the hospital’s mortuary.
The video also showed chaotic scenes of people rushing to escape, with some trying to revive those who fell unconsciously.
The state police command is yet to confirm the incident, but many relatives of the victims were seen sobbing uncontrollably.