A stampede at a political rally in Nigeria killed 12 people and injured dozens on Saturday.
The stampede occurred in a crowd that had gathered to hear President Goodluck Jonathan speak at a soccer stadium in the southern city of Port Harcourt.
Panic began when some listeners tried to leave the stadium while others pressed in to hear Jonathan’s speech. Eleven people were trampled in the rush and one person died later in a hospital, according media reports.
Jonathan’s office said the president had canceled all events in coming days to honor the victims. It also said that authorities are investigating the cause of the stampede.
Jonathan took office after the death of President Yar’Adua in May last year. The speech was part of the president’s campaign for April’s presidential elections.
The stampede occurred in a crowd that had gathered to hear President Goodluck Jonathan speak at a soccer stadium in the southern city of Port Harcourt.
Panic began when some listeners tried to leave the stadium while others pressed in to hear Jonathan’s speech. Eleven people were trampled in the rush and one person died later in a hospital, according media reports.
Jonathan’s office said the president had canceled all events in coming days to honor the victims. It also said that authorities are investigating the cause of the stampede.
Jonathan took office after the death of President Yar’Adua in May last year. The speech was part of the president’s campaign for April’s presidential elections.
