Two aged women on Sunday lost their lives during the Roman Catholic Church yearly “Christ the King Procession ” organised by the Catholic Diocese of Aba, Abia.
The two women was confirmed dead in a private hospital at Cameroon Road by Azikiwe Road Aba, where the doctor did their best to resuscitate them.
The Procession in Aba, saw all the Urban Parishes within Aba converge at the Cathedral Premises of the Christ The King Cathedral (CKC) in Asa Road.
Correspondent in Aba reports that “Christ the King” is celebrated by Roman Catholic Church and the Lutheran Church on the last Sunday of the liturgical year.
The two women were said to come from Holy Cross Parish Aba and may have suffered from severe breathing challenge because of too much crowed that left everyone with little or no breathing space.
Also, many children were alleged to have slumped at the CKC during the procession and were resuciated at the hospital in Cameroun Road, Aba.
Some residents who spoke to our correspondents in Aba on Monday, attributed the death to the mammoth crowed at the CKC that gave little or no breathing space.
Mr Kelechi Aniagbaoso , a resident of Aba, said the Catholic Diocese of Aba over the years have been having issues of people slumping.
“Sunday experience was the first time i heard that someone died and to avert future occurrences, Catholic Diocese of Aba must find a way to decongest the population.
“The Bishop of Aba Catholic Diocese should instruct all urban Churches to concentrate all their procession in their own parishes without coming to the CKC.
“The sun was excruciating, the environment and the atmosphere were extremely unfriendly and many people have serious health conditions.
“Nobody should mock the church over this incident, but nobody also deserves to die such an avoidable death,” he said.
Aniagbaoso pray to God, to grant the souls of the demise eternal rest and give their family the fortitude to bear the loss”
Another eye witness who chose anonymity said the crowd at CKC was too much and some people by age, medical issues and life challenges are supposed to be restricted no matter their zeal.
According to him, his Parish Priest at Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Nwala street off Faulks road Aba, strictly warned the parishioners that are not healthy to forget about the procession.
“The crowd was much, but nobody should claim that there is no breathing space because we stayed in an open environment and not inside a suffocating hall,”he said.
Mr David Onyeka said he heard that, aside from the recorded deaths, that over 30 people collapsed during Christ procession on Sunday.
“What I do not understand and I have been wondering, what is the Christian or spiritual importance of that procession on Sunday?
“What impact does that procession add to the people and why join in that procession when you know you are not fit or healthy for such a long distance exercise,” Onyeka asked.
reports the Feast perform by Roman Catholic Church and others marks Jesus Christ’s messianic kingship and sovereign rule over all creation.
Comment here