5-year-old girl and woman died in Lagos church stampede
Two persons died in a stampede at the Comfort Life Mission International Church located on Ewenla streets, off Ikotun-Idimu Road in Lagos.
The incident happened on Thursday, August 18, during a prayer service hosted by Pastor Odekunle Epaphras Prayer Ministries, also known as Olorun Ojiji.
The service which holds on the third Thursday of every month usually attracts a massive crowd of worshippers.
According to a witness, trouble started after the crowd waiting for the second service scrambled to enter the venue immediately after the first service ended without allowing the first set of worshippers to exit the venue, leading to a stampede.
Spokesperson for the Lagos State Police Command, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the incident to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday, August 19.
He said that incident occurred at about 11.00 a.m. on Thursday, at the church, located on 13/15, Ewenla Street, Pab Bus stop, Ikotun, Lagos.
“The police received a report that there was stamped during their congregational service at the church on Thursday. As a result of the stampede, five persons slumped and were rushed to Isolo General Hospital, for treatment,” the PPRO stated.
“A woman of about 45-years-old and a 5-year-old girl, whose identities and address are unknown, died
“The scene has been visited, corpses deposited at Mainland General Hospital mortuary, Yaba, for preservation, investigation in progress,” he added.