Police to investigate killings at TB Joshua’s church

Police in Accra are expected to start investigations into Sunday’s stampede that killed 4 people and injured 30 others at the Spintex road branch of T.B. Joshua’s Synagogue Church of all Nations (SCOAN).

Reports say congregants were rushing for a free ‘holy water’ that was being distributed at the church as part of the service.

But an official of the church, Rev Sam Mc-Caanan, has told Joy News speculations going round that the sprinkling of the ‘holy water’ caused the stampede are false.

After the stampede, the church was advised by the Police to end the service, which they did.

The bodies of the deceased have been deposited at the 37 and Police Hospital mortuaries.

Accra Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Freeman Tetteh, told Joy News preliminary investigations show that it was the 'eagerness’ of the congregants to receive the ‘holy water’ which created the problem.

DSP Freeman Tetteh stressed the Police is determined to get to the root of the problem.

Meanwhile, former National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) coordinator, DCOP Douglas Akrofi Asiedu, has asked the security agencies, especially the Police, to insist that all churches adhere to strict safety procedures before assembling huge crowds.

DCOP Douglas Akrofi Asiedu told Joy News although some churches invite the Police to assist in crowd control, he finds it difficult to understand why some churches don't do same.

DCOP Asiedu said a Police directive to all churches to adhere to strict safety procedures could prevent a similar incident, such as Sunday's stampede at SCOAN, in the future.