At least three persons are reported dead, following a stampede at the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) in Ikotun, Lagos.
According to The Punch, the incident happened early Saturday morning during SCOAN’s healing service, as worshippers trooped to see the General Overseer of the church, Prophet T.B Joshua.
An eyewitness, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the stampede occurred around 4.30am.
He said: “It was the church’s annual deliverance and healing programme. Usually at this time, the church becomes a beehive of activities as people come in their thousands to see the prophet for miracles.
“People lodge in different hotels surrounding the church. And they all arrive at the church very early.
“There is a canopy on the premises where worshippers are screened before they see the man of God.
“However, on Saturday, after being screened, the crowd was much and they started struggling through the doorway to see the prophet. In the process, three people collapsed. They were rushed to the Isolo General Hospital, where they were confirmed dead.”
Two of the victims were identified as Emeka Okonkwo and Emmanuel Oherin from their phones and their families have been notified. The third victim is yet to be identified. Their corpses have been deposited in a morgue.
“Their families were immediately contacted and they identified them. The police from the Ikotun division were also contacted,” another source added.
A SCOAN official who was contacted by phone, however, denied the incident.
She said: “Nothing happened on the church premises yesterday. Nobody died. Nobody. Thank you.”
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, however, confirmed the incident and said investigations were ongoing.
“The story is true. Investigation is ongoing as we await the result of the autopsy. For now, we are treating the case as sudden and unnatural deaths,” she said.
