Nigeria: Port Harcourt Stampede - Victims Tell Their Stories

18 February 2011

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.

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