"Stampede kills 11 at election rally in Nigeria" by Associated Press, February 14, 2011
LAGOS, Nigeria — A stampede at a political rally in Nigeria killed 11 people and injured dozens more as President Goodluck Jonathan spoke, highlighting the insecurity in Africa’s most populous nation as it prepares for national elections in April.
Authorities in this volatile West African country often have little training in crowd control, and in recent months militants attacked an event attended by the president.
Western nations hope Nigeria’s elections will be calm. The country is a top supplier of easily refined crude oil to the United States.
As Jonathan began his speech Saturday at the soccer stadium in Port Harcourt, some attendees tried to leave to beat the traffic, while others pushed their way inside to hear his speech, said Ibim Semenitari, a Rivers state government spokeswoman....
Authorities in southern Nigeria said they were setting up an investigative panel to look at the cause of the stampede.
Political parties often pay the unemployed to attend such events to swell numbers, and organizers often hand out free hats and shirts to attendees — a valued gift in a country where most earn less than $2 a day.
Even before the event, Jonathan’s visit was marred by deaths. A vehicle in his convoy crashed into a civilian automobile outside Port Harcourt. Local newspapers reported at least two people died in the crash, though authorities would not confirm that yesterday.
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