Three persons reportedly died and over 20 were
injured in a stampede that ensued during the
launch of the Akwa Ibom International Stadium,
Uyo, on Friday, 7 November.
Security men stationed at the gate were also
accused of dispensing tear gas canisters and
using horse whips to control the surging crowd,
who were trying to gain entry into the stadium.
One of the injured victims, Mr. Wisdom Amaowo,
claimed to have been shoved inside the gate by a
security operative who also dispensed tear gas
canisters on him.
He said, “After the policeman dispensed the tear
gas canisters on me, I became unconscious and
did not know when I was moved to where you
now see me. Right now, I cannot bend; you can
see many bruises and cut on my arms, legs and
other parts of my body. Since I have been
brought here, there is no one from the medical
section of the stadium that has come to my aid.”
However, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr.
Emem Bassey, confirmed that two unconscious
persons were taken to an undisclosed hospital,
but stated that no death had been recorded.
He said, “I was told that two persons have been
taken to the hospital; these are perhaps people
who were fighting at the gate in their bid to enter
the stadium.”
“It should be expected; this is the first time this
is happening, everybody is excited, everybody
wants to enter the stadium. We have 150 medical
personnel in this place and eight ambulances. All
our medical teams are up and doing and all the
clinics are manned.”
Meanwhile, the state Commissioner of Police,
Isaac Achong, denied the occurence of a
stampede, saying, “There was no stampede, there
was only crowd control. We are only controlling
the crowd entering the stadium.”
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