A woman, identified as Mary Christiana Ogar, has died following a stampede at an empowerment programme organised by Bishop Eyoanwan Otu, wife of Cross River State Governor Bassey Otu, in Ogoja.
The incident occurred at about 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, October 22, 2026, at Bishop MacGetrick Institute of Technology, formerly Teachers’ Training College (TTC), Ogoja, leaving another woman severely injured.
The deceased, a native of Imaje Community in Yala Local Government Area of Cross River State, was rushed to the General Hospital, Ogoja, alongside another victim.
However, she was later pronounced dead by a medical doctor, while the surviving victim remains under medical care.
The empowerment programme was organised for women from the five local government areas that make up the Northern Senatorial District of Cross River State: Ogoja, Yala, Obudu, Bekwarra and Obanliku.
Items reportedly earmarked for distribution included minibuses, motorcycles, tricycles, deep freezers, sewing machines, hairdressing equipment and bags of rice, among others.
Sources said the programme had been proceeding smoothly until disagreements reportedly arose over the distribution formula. The situation allegedly deteriorated as the crowd grew, with attendees scrambling to obtain the available items.
Reacting to the incident, a concerned Cross Riverian, Micah Matthew, criticised the organisation of the programme, questioning the decision to distribute limited relief items among a large number of beneficiaries.
“What did the organisers expect when five people were expected to share a single 25kg bag of rice in a community where many families are struggling to survive?” Matthew queried.
He argued that empowerment programmes intended to alleviate hardship should be properly planned, transparently managed and fairly organised to prevent unnecessary conflict and loss of lives.
“Your Excellency, empowerment should bring relief, restore hope and improve lives, not create an atmosphere of desperation and rivalry over a bag of rice,” he said.
Matthew further stressed that the people of Cross River State deserved initiatives that genuinely addressed their needs rather than arrangements that left beneficiaries feeling excluded and neglected.
In a statement issued on Friday, the Cross River State Police Command confirmed that two women were rescued and taken to the General Hospital, Ogoja, for medical attention, with one subsequently confirmed dead.
The police spokesperson, ASP Sunday Eitokpah, identified the deceased as Mary Christiana Ogar of Imaje, Yala Local Government Area, and said the second victim remained under medical care.
Eitokpah stated that police officers and other security personnel responded to control the crowd and restore order, adding that the command was reviewing the circumstances surrounding the stampede.
He also dismissed allegations that police action caused the casualties, explaining that preliminary information indicated that the victims sustained their injuries before police personnel deployed tear gas to disperse the crowd.
According to the police spokesperson, the sequence of events and the crowd-control response were still being reviewed.
The Commissioner of Police, Cross River State Command, CP Ajo Geoffrey Ordue, expressed condolences to the family of the deceased and wished the surviving victim a speedy recovery.
The command also urged members of the public to remain calm and refrain from circulating unverified information while investigations continue.
The incident has sparked criticism among residents and concerned citizens, with calls for greater accountability and improved planning of public empowerment programmes.
Matthew emphasised that human lives were far more valuable than any material assistance, urging the relevant authorities to establish the facts surrounding the tragedy, support those affected and implement measures to prevent a recurrence.
