By Frank Ulom
One of the victims of the Wife of the Governor of Cross River State, Bishop Eyoanwan Otu’s empowerment programme stampede is reportedly dead.
According to Mark Ochonu, the victim identified only as Mary lost her life on Wednesday evening at the General Hospital, Ogoja.
Ochonu said Mary, his cousin, was among the victims of the 5kg rice empowerment exercise that was held on October 22 at Bishop MacGetrick Institute of Technology (formerly Teachers’ Training College [TTC]), Ogoja.
“My cousin sister has reportedly lost her life this evening at the General Hospital, Ogoja.
“She was among the victims of the 5kg rice empowerment exercise in Ogoja, an incident that has raised serious concerns about the safety and welfare of those who attended the programme,” Ochonu shared on Wednesday evening on Facebook.
Further confirming the story, Ochonu said, “My cousin sister is gone, and my family is in pain.”
Adding, “…make una come carry her body go bury her oh (sic).”
Converseer reports that Governor Bassey Otu gathered women from Ogoja, Yala, Obudu, Bekwarra, and Obanliku, the five local governments that make up the Northern Senatorial District, for an empowerment exercise.
Bishop Otu distributed relief materials including minibuses, motorcycles, tricycles, deep freezers, sewing machines, hairdressing machines, bags of rice, etc.
However, a tragedy struck at about 3:30 p.m., during a scramble for rice, one of the empowerment items distributed at the programme.
A stampede occurred, leading to the hospitalisation of two women. One of them, Mary Christiana Ogar, was confirmed dead at the hospital.
The second, Mary, who was hospitalised, later died today, according to reports.
Earlier, the state government, in a statement issued by Linus Obogo, Chief Press Secretary and Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, stated that an impartial investigation would be conducted to establish the facts surrounding the stampede, while appropriate measures would be taken to prevent a recurrence.
Watch the video below:
The rice empowerment exercise by the wife of Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State, Mr Eyoanwan Otu, that led to a stampede that killed two woman. pic.twitter.com/7qQji0yWkP
— Daily Lamp (@dailylampnews) October 28, 2026
