At least 31 people, including a pregnant woman and children, were killed in a stampede at an annual “Shop for Free” charity program organized by a Pentecostal church in southern Nigeria, according to a report.
The annual fair, organized by the Kings Assembly Pentecostal church in Rivers state and which was meant to offer hope, was scheduled to start at 9 a.m. local time on Saturday but many arrived as early as 5 a.m. to secure their place in line, The Associated Press said, quoting Grace Iringe-Koko, a police spokeswoman.
Some people broke open the locked gate, which led to the stampede, the spokeswoman said.
A witness, identified only as Daniel, was quoted as saying that he saw a pregnant woman and “so many children” among the dead, including five from one mother.
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