No fewer than 17 people died in a stampede during rice distribution in Anambra today. 

 In Anambra, 17 people were confirmed dead and several others sustained injuries at Okija, Ihiala Local Government Area, following a stampede during the distribution of Christmas rice by officials of a Foundation.

The Foundation has been distributing such gifts annually for many years and people in the entire Ihiala local government and other neighbouring communities always looked forward to it.

According to eyewitnesses, the victims, mostly women and youths, had stationed themselves at the facility as early as 5 a.m. on Saturday, waiting for the distribution to begin at dawn.

The eyewitness said that the crowd became uncontrollable when the distribution began, leading to the stampede.

The dead bodies, and those who sustained injuries, were rushed to an hospital in Ihiala.

In a viral video, dead bodies, including pregnant women, littered the vicinity of the hospital’s mortuary.

The video also showed chaotic scenes of people rushing to escape, with some trying to revive those who fell unconscious