Report from Anambra State, South East Nigeria says, a Baby Strapped on her mother’s back survived while the mother has died during stampede following palliative distributions.
According to the Eagle, the baby’s survival has ensured some consolation for the now widowed Uchenna Nwaudo, the husband of the victim.
Recall that a stampede occurred at the Obijackson Centre in Amanranta, Okija, Anambra State on Saturday in the process of sharing palliatives to people.
About 22 have since been reported dead in the chaos that ensured while they were trying to gain entry.
Lamenting the death of his wife, Nwaudo said his wife actually went against his advice to stay and nurse one of their children.
“I was at the place of my business at Ihiala junction when I was called to rush to Amaranta, venue of the palliatives sharing, that there was a stampede and my wife was trampled upon and that she had just slumped on the floor”, Nwaudo narrated to Punch.
“I expressed surprise as I had already warned her not to attend.
“But when I got there, to my surprise, I met her lifeless body and my baby still strapped on her back while everywhere was rowdy and everybody scampering to safety.
“I looked and observed that the baby was still alive. What I did was removed the baby from her back and left the scene.”
“Even my mobile phone and her handbag were nowhere to be found.
“It was later that I learnt that the lifeless body was taken to the mortuary by the ambulance provided by the organisers of the event. I went to the mortuary at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Ihiala, to see the lifeless body.
“I have consulted with members of the family and we are making arrangements to go and pick up the corpse for proper burial.
“It was an unfortunate situation. I won’t blame the organisers of the event, because it is a gesture they have been doing over the years as a way of helping the members of the community to put a smile on their faces during Yuletide. But this one turned out to be like this.
“It was impatience on the part of the people and poor crowd control that contributed to the incident. I learnt that the security operatives battled to control the surging crowd who forced entry into the premises”, he said.
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