*CP directs discrete investigations, issues advisory to religious, charity organizations
By; JACOB ONJEWU DICKSON
The Rivers State Police Command has informed the general public that the stampede that occurred at Polo Club, Tomba Street, Port Harcourt, River State, has been brought under control and normalcy restored to the area.
A statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) DSP Grace Iringe-Koko, said that preliminary investigations conducted by the Command has revealed that the unfortunate incident occured when the management of Kings Church Assembly organized a crusade which attracted mammoth crowd.
It further revealed that there were plans by the church management to give away food and gift items to the less privileged.
“Unfortunately, the crowd became tumultuous and uncontrollable and all efforts made by the organizers to bring sanity proved abortive hence, the stampede.
“On receipt of the information, the Commissioner of Police immediately drafted adequate police patrol teams to the scene and they were able to restore normalcy. Persons that were injured were swiftly evacuated to the Hospital for immediate medical treatment. Unfortunately, a total of thirty-one persons lost their lives in the stampede.
“Meanwhile, the situation has been brought under control and enough police presence has been put on ground to work with the Command’s safety management officers,” it said.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Eboka Friday, while condemning the incident, directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police in-Charge of the State Criminal Investigations Department to carry out discrete investigations into the incident.
He further called on religious and charity organizations to ensure they work with the Police for security and crowd control management in organizing their programmes in the future.
The CP commiserated with the bereaved families and prayed God to comfort and grant them the fortitude to bear the loss.
