An empowerment program organized by the President Bola Tinubu City Boys Movement for residents of South East Nigeria ended in chaos as people scrambled and carted away livelihood support items.
The event, held at Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu Square in Owerri, Imo State, was meant to distribute tools to help people start small businesses. Items available included sewing machines, deep freezers, grinding machines, and laptops. However, the gathering quickly turned chaotic as hundreds of participants rushed forward to claim the goods.
Despite security officers being on site, the crowd broke through barriers, pushing and jostling for the items. The chaos erupted just as the National Leader of the City Boys Movement, Seyi Tinubu, was about to begin handing out the materials to selected beneficiaries. Some participants sustained minor injuries in the frenzy, and organizers struggled to restore order.
The program was part of the movement’s broader goal to support the South East community and ensure the Igbo people receive a fair share of government resources. Pascal Ikechukwu, the movement’s director in Imo State, also known as Cubana Chief Priest, explained that the City Boys Movement is partnering with the Bola Tinubu administration to create opportunities and provide support for the region.
Many attendees traveled from neighboring towns hoping to receive items that could improve their livelihoods or small businesses. The event highlighted the high demand for economic support in the region, but the unexpected rush overshadowed the day’s objectives and exposed gaps in crowd management.
The City Boys Movement says it will continue its empowerment efforts in the South East but will improve planning and security to avoid a repeat of the chaos witnessed in Owerri.
