Imagine waking up in the wee hours of the morning, braving the forces of nature to show support for your president, only to end up in a coffin the next day!
Unfortunately, this is the predicament for 15 individuals who were killed after a stampede erupted during a presidential rally held by President Muhammadu Buhari.
The stampede took place in Southern Nigeria, further adding controversy to an election that’s been marred by political tension and violence.
If that’s not enough, the country was further rocked by a terrorist attack during campaign trails when a powerful state governor in the Northeastern part of the country was attacked by Jihadists, resulting in the death of four people.
Differentiating Death Tolls
The death tolls are the most recent controversies to taint Saturday’s elections, of which Buhari is seeking a subsequent term in office.
In a statement to the press, spokesperson for the University of Harcourt Teaching Hospital, confirmed that 15 bodies were brought in by Tuesday.
Of the bodies, 12 of them were women while 3 of them were men.
Nonetheless, police in Rivers State had initially given a death toll of four individuals, with four more individuals injured.
It’s a common norm in Nigeria for the authorities to give much lower death tolls than what is on the ground.
According to eyewitnesses, the stampede took place when panic broke out towards the end of the rally held at Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium.
In response, large crowds tried to force themselves through a small gate while exiting the stadium.
Heavy pressure from the back of the crowd resulted in about 15 individuals at the forefront tumbling down.
By the time the crowd had dispersed, what remained was discarded belongings, shoes, and blood-stained clothes on the site.
Indeed, roughly 20 bodies were carried by ambulances, and it is believed that 15 individuals died.