PHOTO: Crowd spelled bound over what happened
By Moses M. Tokpah, mosesmtokpah@gmail.com
KAKATA, Liberia- Impact Liberia Campaign of an Ivorian Bishop, Mohammed Sanogo on Saturday (November 20, 2021) morning turned bad, after two kids reportedly lost their lives while several others are on critical list undergoing treatment at various health facilities in this city 34 miles east of Monrovia in Margibi County, in what appears to be a stampede.
The campaign was characterized by four days of crusade, which started on November 17, 2021 and was to be climaxed on Saturday, November 20, 2021, as a “Children’s Evangelism Day” beginning at 8am.
But it went the other way when a huge crowd, comprising children, had gathered at the stadium to receive gifts as part of the Children’s Evangelism Day, when some of them met their untimely death thereby leading to the premature closure of the event.
It is reported that some of the kids were taken to the Stadium at 12am GMT by their parents, while some of them below the age of 10 went there by themselves.
Speaking to this Reporter at the Kakata Health Center following the incident, the father of one of the dead children, Zuannah Mollay said his wife took their six years old son, Jallah Mollay on the Stadium where he met his demise.
Mr. Mollay said he received call at 6:30am Saturday morning that his son was taken to the stadium by the mother and that he fell off and was rushed to City clinic.
The deceased father indicated that upon his arrival, nurses advised that his son needed to go under oxygen after which he hurriedly took him to the Kakata Health Center.
Mr. Mollay explained that when they got to the facility, the OIC alerted him that the child was dead.
“Even when I brought him the OIC after she felt him all over she said it’s like they stepped on this child so it’s like people walked on him,” Mr. Mollay asserted.
Accordding to Zuannah, What he gathered is that those who had gone to receive the items formed a queue and at certain times some of those that were in the queue wanted to go ahead of their friends and as such the security tried to arrange them at which time huge number of them went down adding that whoever that could not withstand the weight got affected.
“I am feeling very frustrated because not getting to know about my child illness only to see that he’s dead, I feel very much frustrated,” he narrated.
Though Mr. Mollay said he was not aware of his son being taken on the stadium, he said he and the mother of the child attended the crusade for the past three days.
When asked while his son was taken to the stadium, Zuannah Mollay said he was informed that a man of God who came to Kakata was distributing gifts amongst children.
“What they said is the man of God who has come to Margibi was distributing gifts for children.”
At the same time, a one year eight months old child, Ben Kamara reportedly died as the result of the struggle.
Meima Kadii, a neighbor to the family of the child said, as early as 5am she (Meima Kadii), the deceased’s mother and others left their houses and went on the stadium to receive their children’s items.
According to her, upon their arrival the area was overcrowded and she asked her colleagues including the mother of the child to form additional line. But the crowd continued going towards them at which time the baby’s mother decided to go to the other side on grounds, where they were reportedly asked to go to receive their children items.
And the mother of the child told her that she wanted to try to go to the other side where they were reportedly asked to go to receive their children items.
She said after awhile she only heard that the child was unconcious as she (Meima)could not tell how the incident occurred.
Meima however, said they were not given specific time to go on the field for the items.
For her part, the rescuer of another kid identified as Esther, Afelia Pewu said she went on the stadium in search of her brother who left the home that morning and when she arrived she saw the place crowded thereby finding another means to go in.
Afelia stated that while on the field she observed that some of those that were working the Impact Crusade Liberia team were ushering in their children while other kids were outside the facility.
She said at that point in time a vehicle was entering the fence and children that were outside the fence started forcing their way through behind the car.
Afelia indicated that some it was when People were falling and luckily for her, she met Esther who is her friend’s little sister lying down unconsciously.
Afelia said she then took Esther to the pump and started pumping water on her but to no avail and she decided taken her to the health facility at which time she met the Manager of Radio Margibi who aided her on his motorbike thus carrying them to City Clinic.
She noted that nurses at the facility referred them to the Kakata Health Center on grounds that there was no oxygen at that center and she was immediately rushed there.
Meanwhile, latest information gathered by this writer says little Esther has recovered while some other kids who went unconscious are still at the different health facilities including modern clinic and city clinic undergoing treatment.
Nearly an hour after the incident, the Bishop of the Impact Crusade Liberia was escorted by members of the Liberia National Police to Monrovia,.
This thereby made it difficult for Journalists here in Margibi County (including this writer) to have audience with him. Every parent was being told that the items will be taken to their various Churches for distribution.
More details surrounding this incident will follow later.