Catholic Church Issues Statement About The Anambra Adoration Ground Stampede That Killed Over 30.

In the early hours of Saturday, November 02, 2013, there was a stampede
moments after prayers at the Holy Ghost Adoration Centre, Uke, in Idemili South
LGA of Anambra State.
The stampede, which occurred while people were going home, resulted in the loss
of some lives.
Some are still injured and receiving treatments in some hospitals.
Vigil was usually held at the centre on every first Friday of the month. The crowd at
the centre was unprecedented on this first Friday of November 2013 probably
because it was the Solemnity of All Saints and a holy day of obligation for Catholic
faithful.
Save for the unprecedented crowd, the vigil started and ended normally.
The stampede was reportedly caused by a false alarm raised by somebody in the
crowd along one of the narrow roads out of the town. The crowd was so much
that people wanting to leave all at the same time made it very difficult for people to
find enough space to move.
This happened in just one of the roads out of the town.
The outpouring of concerns and supports with regard to the incident has been
tremendous. The Archbishop of Onitsha, Most Rev. valerian Okeke, is still deeply
saddened by this ugly incident.
He has visited the dead in the morgue and the injured in the hospitals. His heart
goes out to the families and friends of those who lost their lives in the incident.
He promises his closeness to them and all the faithful of the Holy Ghost Adoration
Centre, Uke, and especially the Spiritual Director of the Centre, Rev. Fr. Emmanuel
Obimma, who is hard hit by the ugly incident.
Full investigations have been launched into the matter and more efforts are being
made to protect the lives of all worshippers at the centre.
The Archdiocese of Onitsha remains very grateful to the many volunteers who
swung into action immediately saving as many lives as possible. We also thank the
management and staff of the various hospitals where the injured were sent
immediately for treatment. They have been wonderful.
We remain grateful to you all for your closeness and sympathies at this difficult
moment. May the dead through the mercy of God rest in peace, Amen.