According to some of the survivors at the Port-Harcourt centre, Blessing Uzor and Chinemen Isaac, who were recuperating at Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital (BMSH) and Glory Hospital Ogbunabali, the stampede at the Elekahia stadium was caused by the directive of the immigration officers that applicants should squat.
One of the victims, Blessing
Recounting what happened, Blessing said, "The only thing I can remember now is when soldiers who were assisting the Immigration officers ordered some of us to squat and while we were doing that many candidates were standing at our back. Five minutes later, the crowd fell on us. I regained consciousness at 4:45 am on Sunday. I began to ask for my bag and the other writing materials I took to the recruitment centre. I thank God that I can talk now."
Isaac who was still struggling with shock at the Glory Hospital said some people were pushing to make way for themselves and that's how they fell on top of one another.
In Abuja, Kunle Ojelabi said, "The recruitment, which was meant to put smiles on faces, saw people struggling to enter the stadium. How does NIS expect to conduct a good recruitment test in a place like this?"
Some of the applicants in Lagos described the recruitment examination as a sham.
According to a source who pleaded anonymity, the organisers of the exam did it to fulfill all righteousness.
Another candidate, Yinka Adebisi said, "I eventually got to write the exam after much struggle. It got to an extent that the officials started throwing the questions on the field for candidates to scramble and pick. In fact, the whole thing was a sham. It was not well organised."
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