Port Harcourt Stampede: How Illegal Scheme Caused Deaths, Injuries With Promise Of Food Items

The incident that happened on Tuesday morning at the Event Center of the InkNation, an illegal blockchain operator with office in Port Harcourt, was a disaster that could have become catastrophic if not for prompt intervention of security forces and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

At least two persons were said to have died during the stampede while many injured are still receiving treatment in hospitals.

InkNation, which calls itself an NGO, is said to be into online pink card shopping, contributions, funds trading and investments.

But the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) had warned Nigerians against investing with the scheme, describing it as an “illegal” Blockchain operator.

The organization had obviously lured thousands of Nigerians to subscribe to its various schems and announced it was going to give out “palliatives” to registered members from Ikwerre, Emohua and Obio-Akpor Local Government Areas on Tuesday.

The large number of people that trooped out for the Christmas largesse led to a stampede as the organisers, who probably did not envisage the size of the crowd, provided a venue too small to accommodate their guest.

The crowd also included aggrieved members of InkNation who tagged the organization as “’unrealiable” and lacking in “integrity,”and had come to show their displeasure.

Some eyewitnesses spoke to THE WHISTLER on InkNation and gave accounts of what happened.

Mr.John  Akachukwu said: “This is the height of wickedness I have ever seen since my stay here in Port Harcourt.

“How can a company which has taken so much from Port Harcourt people arrange for something like this in such kind of space and location? Bearring in mind the thousands that have subscribed to their packages.?

“Rivers Government and every family of the victims involved should not let any of the staff or management of this company to  go unpunished.”

Another witness, Obinda Williams, says, “I warned my wife about this company never to invest or put her money but she refused and insisted.

“Just this morning, she left for the palliatives. If not for my colleague who called me to tell her to return, who knows whether  she would have been involved in the stampede.

“Take a look at how human beings are being stepped on, killed and heavily wounded over mere food stuffs.

“It is really painful, seeing people struggle for life because of a fake and fraudulent scheme. I employ the government and every financial institutions to come and intervene in this matter.”

Engr. Onome Swingle narrated how he has been transacting with a pink card issued to him by the InkNation. According to him, “I was duly informed about this palliative but my worry was that over some time now, the company has been involved in series of integrity issues in their locations in the country.

“I saw this coming and I warned all of those we did this together to stay away from the scene as they were no longer reliable.

“I couldn’t go to work today because my friend was involved and I helped rushed him to the hospital were he’s receiving some treatment.

“Now the management of the company are nowhere no be found.”

Meanwhile, the situation is under control as the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, CP Joseph Mukan, has instituted immediate probe into the unfortunate incident with a view to ascertaining the circumstances that led to the stampede and bring persons found culpable to justice.