The City Boy Movement has said unidentified individuals were responsible for looting palliative materials during its sensitisation rally in Owerri on Saturday.
The group organised the rally as part of activities supporting Bola Ahmed Tinubu and to distribute empowerment items to beneficiaries from the five South-East states.
The items displayed at the venue included food supplies, mobile phones, sewing machines and grinding machines, among other materials intended for distribution.
However, shortly after the distribution began, the crowd surged forward to grab the items, causing chaos and resulting in a stampede.
Some observers linked the incident to the economic hardship in the country, but the group dismissed such claims.
The movement is led by businessman Obinna Iyiegbu.
In a statement, the spokesperson of the group in the South-East, Uche Nworah, said the disruption was caused by unknown individuals who stormed the venue.
“While the disruption was regrettable, it should not overshadow the positive intentions and efforts behind the programme, which was designed to support and empower young people, market traders and vulnerable people across the South-East,” he said.
According to Nworah, the event, tagged the Renewed Hope National Tour and the City Boy Movement South-East Youth Tour and Empowerment Programme, began successfully on March 14 at Heroes Square.
He said empowerment items meant for beneficiaries from Abia State, Anambra State, Imo State, Ebonyi State and Enugu State included shuttle buses, sewing machines, deep freezers, grinding machines, barbing kits, wheelchairs, smartphones, generator sets, laptops, cash grants, farming kits and fertilisers.
Nworah explained that the situation changed when some unidentified persons allegedly stormed the venue and began carting away items meant for the programme, creating panic that led to the stampede.
He added that he personally witnessed the incident and described as unfortunate the negative interpretations given to the event in some quarters.
