The Cross River State Police Command has confirmed the death of a woman following a stampede during an empowerment programme in Ogoja town, on Thursday, October 22, 2026.
The deceased, identified as Mary Christiana Oga from Imaje in Yala Local Government Area, reportedly died at the General Hospital, Ogoja, where she was taken for medical attention alongside another woman who was also rescued after the incident.
The incident occurred at about 3:30 p.m. during an empowerment programme attended by the wife of the Cross River State Governor and her entourage. The stampede reportedly happened as participants scrambled to receive empowerment items distributed at the event.
In a further clarification, the police said preliminary information indicated that the two women sustained their injuries before police personnel deployed tear gas to disperse the crowd and restore order.
The Command stressed that the information available so far did not establish that police action caused the casualties, adding that the circumstances surrounding the incident were still being reviewed.
According to the police, security personnel responded to control the crowd after it continued to grow as attendees struggled to obtain the items being distributed.
One of the rescued women was subsequently pronounced dead by a medical doctor, while the second victim remains under medical care. The police said further information about the surviving victim would be released when her condition had been verified and it was appropriate to do so.
The Commissioner of Police in Cross River State, CP Ajo Geoffrey Ordue, expressed sympathy to the family of the deceased and wished the surviving victim a speedy recovery.
The police commissioner also stressed the need for proper crowd management, adequate safety arrangements and effective coordination during public gatherings, particularly programmes expected to attract large numbers of people.
The Command said it was reviewing the sequence of events, the circumstances that led to the stampede and the response by security personnel to establish what happened.
Residents have been urged to remain calm and avoid circulating unverified information while the review continues.
The incident has drawn attention to the importance of putting adequate safety measures in place during public empowerment programmes, especially where large crowds gather to receive food items, financial assistance or other forms of support.
While the police investigation continues, questions remain about the crowd-control arrangements at the venue and the measures put in place to prevent such an incident.
The police said they would provide further updates as necessary