A 62 year old woman is reported to have died in a covid19 palliative stampede in a community in Rivers state.
Several others including a 92 year old woman suffered severe injuries while the distribution was going on.
Reports from Port Harcourt say that Mrs Florence Onuobodo was severely trampled upon by the large crowd. This was in the course of the struggle to get a share of the government palliative that was being distributed.
The incident occurred at the Elele Kingdom in the Ikwerre Local Government area on Monday.
Mrs Onuobodo was subsequently rushed to the the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital where she died in the course of treatment.
Eye witnesses say that the distribution process was poorly handled leading to the surge and stampede by the teaming crowd who tried to get some of the government handouts.
However, the Councillor representing Elele Ward 4, Emmanuel Amadi refutes the claims of poor planning or handling by the government staff drafted to do the distribution.
According to him, that was not the only community where the #COVID19 palliative distribution took place. All others were effectively done.
Speaking to reporters, he said the government team was asking the people inside a gated compound in 20s to pick up their share. For him, the process was peaceful until they heard shouts and a fight outside the gate of the premises.
Amadi said the fight was among some women. The 62-year old woman who was at the scene of the fracas may have been injured in the fight and not as a result of a palliative stampede.
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