“Religion has happened to me” – Man mourns his wife and daughter who died in stampede during Abia Catholic church procession

A Nigerian man, Peter Ukaegbu, has mourned the d3ath of his wife, Emmanuella Chizoba and their daughter, Onyinyechi Prisca, in the fatal stampede at Christ the King Cathedral (CKC) in Aba, Abia State.

The mother, daughter and three other worshippers were trampled to d3ath, with about 13 children hospitalised, following the stampede which occurred during the annual Christ the King procession on Sunday, November 25, 2024. 

The incident is believed to have occurred due to the overcrowding of the Christ the King Cathedral, as security men were alleged to have locked the gates of the church.

In a heart-wrenching post on Facebook, Ukaegbu revealed that he and his wife had planned to celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary in Port Harcourt on November 30.

“We would have been in P.H.C celebrating our 10th wedding anniversary today as we planned up to 23rd November, 2024. You woke up on Sunday morning with my adorable daughter who doubles as my second wife, cooked, bath your children and went to Corpus Christi all for me to be told that my wife and my daughter are no more. This double tragedy has devastated me, thrown me into mourning, uprooted my joy, made me restless,” he wrote. 

“I used to think that I am courageous and strong without knowing that I am lighter than banana leave. I don’t know where to start, the level of fear in me can’t be imagined.

“I am in shock, I am confused, I don’t know what to do right now. It is unfortunate that the venue where you wedded was the same venue that consumed you and your daughter. May this affliction never rise for the second time.

“RELIGION HAS HAPPENED TO ME.

“May your souls rest in the bossom of your maker.”

“Good night my LOVE Emmanuella Chizoba Peter Ukaegbu. Good night Onyinyechi Prisca Ukaegbu (Ada Daddy Ya).”