By KEMI KASUMU
President Muhammadu Buhari says he is extremely saddened by the reported deaths of scores of worshippers during a stampede at a religious event in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on Saturday May 28, 2022.
The DEFENDER, after securing confirmation of the incident by the Rivers State Police Command, had reported that 31 dead with several injured in the stampede that greeted rush for free food and gifts in a new generation church in the state capital.
In a reaction to the incident, according to his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity Malam Garba Shehu, the President admonished organizers of religious, political and other big events to plan well and carry them out in a disciplined manner to avert similar calamitous deaths and injuries.
The President directed that “all efforts should be made to provide relief to those injured in the unfortunate incident,” and that disaster and relief agencies of the Federal Government should maintain constant contact with the Rivers State government to ensure that good care is taken of the relief efforts.
President Buhari expressed his condolences and that of the nation to the bereaved families and to the government and people of Rivers State and prayed to the Almighty to repose the souls of the deceased.
