Two killed, several injured during Catholic procession in Abia

Tragedy Strikes Abia Catholic Procession: Two Dead and Many Injured

In a heartbreaking incident during a Catholic procession in Abia State, two individuals lost their lives, while many others were left injured.

The procession, held at Christ The King Catholic Church (CKC) in Aba, was part of the “Christ the King Sunday” celebration, a significant event in both the Roman Catholic and Lutheran Churches that honors the sovereignty of Jesus Christ as King.

The procession, organized by the Catholic Diocese of Aba, drew an overwhelming crowd from urban parishes in the city, with attendees spilling over into the gate area of the CKC premises along Asa Road.

Unfortunately, the large turnout led to a tragic situation when two elderly women, both members of the Holy Cross Parish in Aba, reportedly collapsed amidst the crowd.

They were quickly rushed to a nearby hospital but were declared dead.

It is suspected that the women may have suffocated due to the dense, suffocating atmosphere caused by the large number of people.

The scene was chaotic, with several children also fainting during the procession.

These children were promptly taken to a nearby private hospital for medical attention.

According to Catholic faithful Modestus Kalu, incidents of fainting at processions have occurred before, but this is the first time such a tragedy resulted in fatalities.

Kalu expressed his concern about the overcrowding and urged the Catholic Diocese of Aba to implement measures to prevent similar occurrences in the future.

He described the environment as “extremely unfriendly” and emphasized the need for better preparation by the church, given its prominence.

Kalu prayed for the souls of the deceased and extended his condolences to their families, stressing that such a loss could have been avoided.

Attempts to reach the Bishop of the Aba Catholic Diocese, Prof. Augustine Echema, were unsuccessful, as security personnel at the CKC church indicated he was not available.

However, a senior church leader assured Vanguard that efforts are underway to reach out to the families of the victims and address the tragedy.

The Catholic Diocese of Aba has faced criticism in the past regarding overcrowding during its processions, but this event has sparked renewed calls for action to ensure the safety and well-being of attendees in future gatherings.