12 Killed in Nigerian Stampede

Gunmen burst into a weekly prayer meeting in the southern city of Enugu, triggering a stampede by hundreds of worshipers that left at least 12 people dead, police and witnesses said Saturday.

The gunmen, who left without wounding anyone, were apparently trying to capture or harm fiery Roman Catholic priest Ejike Mbaka, who was leading the prayer meeting Thursday night, said diocese spokesman the Rev. Evans Offor.

The meeting had been organized by the Roman Catholic Church on the grounds of a technical college. The Rev. Obiora Ike, vicar-general of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Enugu, said the gunmen broke into the open-air meeting just as it was ending.

The independent Vanguard newspaper quoted Offor as saying that the victims were trying to escape the gunmen who stormed the venue.

“These people looked like thugs, hired assassins. When they began to harass people at the gate, people became so much afraid and there was pandemonium,” Offor said, according to the paper.

There were differing accounts of the number of dead. Ike said at least 14 people were killed, while police commissioner Idris Mohammed said at least 12 people were confirmed dead. Authorities were investigating reports of two other deaths, he said.

The prayer meetings are regularly attended by thousands of people hoping to be saved from poverty and disease.

Mbaka has been repeatedly harassed and sought by Enugu state government officials for questioning, Offor said. He did not elaborate, and government officials were not immediately available for comment. However, police said they were not looking for Mbaka.