The leadership of President Bola Tinubu’s support group, City Boy Movement, has clarified the looting of palliative materials provided by the group during its sensitization rally in Owerri, Imo State, on Saturday.
The rally, which was for the five states of the South East, had positioned several items to be distributed to the people, including phones, sewing machines and grinders.
But soon after the commencement of the distribution exercise, trouble broke out, with the crowd surging forward to get the items, leading to a stampede, while many people carted away items meant for distribution.
Many people have blamed the action on the level of hunger in the country, under the presidency of President Tinubu, the same man whose name the movement was using to make the donations.
But the leadership of City Boy Movement, under businessman Chief Obinna Iyiegbu, has debunked the claims, insinuating that those who looted the items meant for distribution came from outside, meaning it could be a plot to disrupt the event.
The spokesperson of the movement in the South East, Chief Uche Nworah, who spoke on behalf of Iyiegbu, in a statement, said while the disruption was regrettable, it should not overshadow the positive intentions and efforts behind the programme, which was to support and empower young people, market traders, and some vulnerable people across the Southeast.
“The Renewed Hope National Tour and the City Boy Movement Southeast Youth Tour and Empowerment Programme, which officially kicked off on Saturday, March 14, 2026, at Heroes Square in the beautiful city of Owerri, Imo State, was progressing smoothly and successfully.
“The empowerment items to beneficiaries from the five Southeast states: Abia, Anambra, Imo, Ebonyi, and Enugu states, included: Shuttle buses, sewing machines, deep freezers, grinding machines, barbing kits, wheelchairs for persons with disabilities, smartphones for content creators, generator sets, laptops, cash grants, farming kits and fertilizers, hair salon equipment etc.
“However, the atmosphere changed when some unidentified individuals suddenly stormed the venue and began carting away items meant for the empowerment programme. This unexpected disruption caused panic in the crowd and, unfortunately, led to a stampede.
“I was present at the event and witnessed what transpired firsthand. It is therefore quite unfortunate to see the negative spin being given to the incident in some quarters,” he said.
