An empowerment programme organised by the City Boys Movement for residents of the South-East descended into chaos after participants scrambled for distributed livelihood items.
The event, held at the Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu Square in Owerri, saw a large crowd surge forward in an attempt to secure items such as sewing machines, deep freezers, grinding machines, and laptops.
Eyewitnesses said the gathering quickly became disorderly as attendees pushed through barricades set up by organisers, despite the presence of security operatives stationed at the venue.
The situation reportedly escalated just as the National Leader of the movement, Seyi Tinubu, was preparing to commence the distribution of the items to selected beneficiaries.
Earlier in his remarks, the Imo State director of the movement, Pascal Ikechukwu, said the group intended to work closely with the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu to advance the interests of people from the South-East.
Addressing the gathering, Ikechukwu said the event was meant to demonstrate goodwill and partnership with the federal government, adding that the region should pursue cooperation rather than confrontation in its political engagements.
He also acknowledged that political decisions in the past had been influenced by regional considerations, but stressed that the focus going forward should be on collaboration to secure greater opportunities for the South-East.
The disruption, however, overshadowed the empowerment exercise, as organisers struggled to restore order amid the rush for the distributed items.
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