Several lives were lost on Tuesday during the All Progressive Congress (APC) presidential rally with President Muhammadu Buhari in attendance.
The cause of the stampede was not known but many believe crowd control was not well managed during the rally.
The Rivers State government has regretted the development and has commiserate with the families of the victims.
“Rivers State Government has commiserated with families of those who lost their lives during the stampede that occurred at the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Rally at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Igwuruta Ali, Rivers State today,” according to statement by the Commissioner for Information and Communications Emma Okah.
Okah said “these deaths at a time like this are very unfortunate and deeply saddening.”
“It is a sad development and we share the pains of these families. It is possible that this ugly situation would have been avoided if the organisers had taken some basic precautions relating to crowd management in a gated environment” Okah said, noting that bitter lessons like this should not be the portion of Rivers people again irrespective of the political party they belong to.
Okah prayed God to accept the souls of the departed and urged political parties to be more prayerful and carry out their electioneering campaigns with the fear of God and consideration for the lives and property of others.