Two elderly women lost their lives and several others sustained injuries amid overflow of worshippers during the “Christ the King Sunday” procession at Christ the King Catholic (CKC) Church in Aba, Abia State on Sunday.
The annual procession, celebrated in the Roman Catholic and Lutheran Churches, marks the messianic kingship and sovereign rule of Jesus Christ.
The event, organized by the Catholic Diocese of Aba, attracted a massive crowd as urban parishes converged on the CKC premises on Asa Road.
Witnesses reported that trouble began when the overwhelming crowd overflowed into the church’s gate area, creating a congested environment.
Two elderly women from Holy Cross Parish in Aba collapsed and were rushed to a nearby hospital, where they were pronounced dead.
The cause of death was suspected to be suffocation, due to overcrowding.
Additionally, several children who fainted during the procession were also taken to a private hospital for medical attention.
A Catholic faithful, Modestus Kalu, lamented that while instances of people collapsing during processions had occurred, this was the first time fatalities were recorded.
He called on the Diocese to decentralize the procession to avoid overcrowding in future events.
“The crowd overflowed, and the atmosphere was unfriendly. Many people have serious health conditions. The Catholic Church should have known better and prepared for such occurrences. Nobody deserves to die such an avoidable death,” Kalu stated.
He urged the Bishop of Aba Diocese to direct parishes to hold processions within their own premises instead of converging on CKC, where overcrowding is common.
Another witness noted that parishioners at Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Catholic Church had been warned by their priest to avoid the procession if they were unwell.
“The crowd was large, but the event took place in an open environment, not a closed hall. There was enough space for breathing. Death can happen anywhere, but precautions must be taken,” he said.
A resident, David Onyeka, questioned the purpose of the procession, asking: “What is the spiritual or practical importance of this procession? Is it for fun or for some deeper significance?”
While efforts to reach the Bishop of Aba Diocese, Prof. Augustine Echema was unsuccessful, a senior church leader said whose steps were being taken to support the victims’ families and review the management of future processions.
This is the first time such a tragic incident has been recorded during the “Christ the King” procession in the Diocese, sparking discussions on how to ensure safety during religious events.
[Vanguard]
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