By JIMITOTA ONOYUME
Security operatives from Abuja have been blamed for being largely responsible for the stampede last Saturday in Port Harcourt, which resulted in the death of about ten persons with several others sustaining injuries.

Manager of Liberation Stadium, where the sad incident occurred, Mr. Nmehielle James,    said   prior to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP’s, presidential rally at the venue, security men from Abuja changed the keys to all the gates in the stadium.  He said they took over security of the area, adding that the Abuja security operatives only opened three gates for use during the rally.

He said the security men also harassed staff of the stadium as they chased them out of their offices before the programme commenced.

The Manager, who spoke when members of the Commission of Inquiry on the stampede led by the Chairman, Mr Mohamed Abubakar, visited the stadium, said pressure became too much at the gates since only three were opened. He said the Abuja security men ignored those on ground.

In their separate comments, Commissioner of Police, in charge of medicals in the South South region, Mrs. Margaret Hart and the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations in Rivers State, Mr.  Habila Joshak blamed the sad incident on the surging crowd and poor crowd control.  Mr. Habila said adequate provision was made by police in Rivers State to man the arena but mid way, they were ordered by the Strike Force and PMF 24 to step aside.

Continuing, he said lapses at the gate were largely responsible for the stampede. He also fingered some politicians, who allegedly threw money into the sky, a situation that caused pandemonium around the gate.