BY JIMITOTA ONO-YUME, PORT HARCOURT

NONE of the victims saw it coming that sunny afternoon. The Liberation Stadium, venue of the Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential campaign rally for the South South region, was filled to capacity. A stone hurled into the arena would probably have landed on somebody’s head because every available space in the arena was literally taken over by humans.

The place was agog as party faithfuls danced to renditions from Donka Mighty and other musicians lined up to spice up the day. The peak of the event was when governors of the five states in the region where elections would hold this April were handed the party’s flag symbolising that they had been officially recognised by the party as its governorship candidates in the coming gubernatorial elections in their states. As each state governor got his flag it triggered off shouts of jubilation from his supporters in the arena. The place was electrified as supporters celebrated. But when the joyous mood started dying down, some felt it was time to leave. First they went to the main gate which was firmly locked with stern looking security operatives all over. Nobody advised them to head to a smaller gate where people were struggling to get out in twos and threes. As those inside were pushing and shoving to go out those outside were also doing same to come in. And before you knew it some in the tumultuous crowd had collapsed out of exhaustion. Not minding that these weak ones were on the ground those still shoving continued, crushing the haples ones on the ground with their feet. Medical Director of the state owned Braithwaite Memorial Hospital, BMH, Dr Bernand Aprioku in an interview with the Vanguard Metro said a total of 32 cases were rushed to the hospital that day. And all of them were resuscitated. At the time of this piece six females and a male were still on admission for various reasons in the hospital. He said the state government picked the bills of all the patients, including the ones that had been discharged.

Continuing, he said 10 dead cases were brought to the hospital’s morgue that day. And another one that died at a trauma centre in the state capital was also later brought, thus making the total figure of the dead to 11.

The state Commissioner for Information, Mrs Ibim Seminatari at a media session said about 40 persons were also rushed to a trauma centre, Teme Clinc that day. But that most of them were later discharged after they were attended to. At the BMH one of the patients, according to the Medical Director, was referred to the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital.

At the time of writing this report, resident doctors in the state were on strike. The Medical Director of BMH said the strike did not really stop medical attention for casualties from the stampede.

Vice President Namadi Sambo was at the hospital to commiserate with the patients on Monday.

In a chat with Vanguard Metro the patients at BMH told their stories.

*Nekea is from Ogoni and has this to say: “I came to the Liberation Stadium because they invited my people to attend the rally there. But when we wanted to leave, policemen refused to open the gate. Suddenly people started pushing and I fell down. Before I knew it several other people fell on me, while those standing trampled on my chest, head and eyes. I was on the ground shouting.Right now I still feel in pain my waist and back hurts badly”.

How many children do you have?

Five. I am also a breast feeding mother. I don’t know what my children are eating now.

Is the government taking care of you people?

Yes.

*Nyeche Dorothy is from Ubima (the Governor’s village) in Ikwerre Local Government Area. This is her story:

“Our women leader in Ubima PDP asked us to come to the stadium for the Goodluck Jonathan’s rally. I heard that the woman died in the stampede. (She hissed). After they gave Governor Amaechi the flag we all started jubilating. As we tried to come out we saw that mobile policemen had blocked the gate. We could not go back to the crowd or even move forward. The crowd at the gate was so much. I saw some people on the ground and thought they were even sleeping. I too fell. What kept me alive was the gun shot from the police men at the gate because it caused those at the back to move back a little. A police man came to lift me from the ground. Horses which some of the policemen rode on trampled me, my waist is broken now. The originals of my certificates are all missing”.

How come you went to the rally with your certificates?

“I am a graduate of Psychology under Guidance and Counselling. I don’t have a job; I graduated four years ago. I go about with my certificates because some of our senior government people ask for them when you run into them. They want to see your papers”.

What is the nature of your problem?

I have pains in my tummy and my chest. The problem was caused by the weight of those who fell on me while I was lying on the ground. I feel pains all over now”.

*Elizbeth Jackson is from Okrika and told her story thus:

“We came to the arena at 6am. After they gave Governor Amaechi his flag, as the President was about to speak we heard that those of us that wanted to leave could do so since we had not eaten since morning. The police did not open the gate. The pushing at the gate caused me to fall. People trampled my eyes, head, all over me. I have done x-ray and I am being treated for problem around my eye region. The eyes are paining me.

*TrustGod Young Harry is an elderly woman from Buguma also has a bitter story to tell:

“As we wanted to leave we noticed the gate was locked. There was no way to move. I don’t know how it happened, but I fell and that was all I can remember. I woke up at the hospital and started asking how I came here. I lost four thousand naira in my bag and my voters’ card. I was told to always go about with the voter’s card. I don’t know what to do now that I have lost the card.

*Edith Rufus is from Ahoada but married to a man from Okrika. This is her own story:

“The crowd at the gate was so much and there was a lot of pushing. I fell on top of a woman I presume was dead. Other people started falling on me. Later some people came to drag me up. I fainted; that was the last I recalled. When I woke up I saw water all over me. My waist is broken. I thank God I am alive.

How has the state government been handling your issue?

Fine. I thank God I did not die. The Governor has been here. The Vice President came here yesterday, touched us and said it will be well.

*Victoria Ihunwo is from Ogbunabali in Ikwerre and this is her own account. “We started leaving when our Governor started talking. I got to the gate and saw a tumultuous crowd. A woman behind me fell. Before I could think of what to do, somebody in my front pushed me and I landed on the ground. People started stepping on me. I tried standing but people running helter- skelter kept pushing me, so I could not do anything. I started praying to God not to let me die; in the process I fainted.

“At the Braithwaite Memorial hospital where we were rushed to I started vomiting blood. The Governor and his wife were here when this happened and they started crying for me. When I regained consciousness, the first thing I asked was if anybody died and they told me nobody died. But later when I found out some people died I felt very bad.

What are you being treated for now?

My eyes and head. I feel severe pains all over these places.

How will you describe the government response to your situation?

Fine At press time, a commission of inquiry set up by the Inspector General of Police, Hafiz Ringim had commenced sitting in Port Harcourt.

The panel headed by AIG M.D. Abubakar urged witnesses to come forward to testifty, assuring that they would not be harrassed.