Cross River Police Confirm 1 Dead After Scramble For Empowerment Items In Ogoja

The Cross River State Police Command has confirmed the death of one woman following a stampede during an empowerment programme in Ogoja Local Government Area of the state.

The incident, according to the Command, occurred at about 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, October 22, 2026, during an empowerment programme attended by the wife of the Governor of Cross River State and her entourage.

The Command said the crowd at the venue continued to grow as attendees scrambled to obtain empowerment items being distributed at the programme, leading to a stampede.

Findings by LEADERSHIP revealed that two women were were rescued from the scene and immediately taken to the General Hospital, Ogoja, for medical attention, while another victim was pronounced dead by the medical expert on duty at the hospital.

The deceased was identified as Mary Christiana Oga of Imaje in Yala Local Government Area of the state, while the second woman remains under medical observation.

The Commissioner of Police, Cross River State Command, CP Ajo Geoffrey Ordue, has commiserated with the family of the deceased and wished the surviving victim a speedy recovery.

He emphasised the importance of proper crowd management, adequate safety arrangements and effective coordination at public gatherings to prevent such tragedies.

The Command said it is reviewing the sequence of events, the circumstances of the stampede and the crowd-control response, urging members of the public to remain calm and refrain from circulating unverified information pending the outcome of its review.

Effort to get reaction from the governor’s wife chief press secretary Mrs.. Faith Okon, failed as her telephone number said not reachable.