A chaotic scene unfolded at Heroes Square, Owerri, on Monday night during the flag-off of the “Imo Got Talent” show and palliative distribution event. What started as a talent hunt competition turned into a frantic scramble for palliatives, leaving several people injured.
The event, organized by the Imo State Ministry of Youth Development and Talent Hunt, aimed to celebrate International Youth Day and provide relief supplies. Initially, palliatives were distributed to organizations representing people living with disabilities and students from various institutions, including Imo State University and Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO). These students were part of the official flag-off and photo opportunities.
As the event stretched into the late evening, tensions rose among youths waiting for their share of the palliatives. When it became apparent that supplies were running low, the situation quickly escalated. Agitated youths stormed the arena, grabbing whatever they could. The chaos resulted in injuries and was only quelled when military personnel intervened, dispersing the crowd and moving the remaining supplies with them.
The palliatives, which included 25kg bags of rice and cartons of noodles, were part of the government’s effort to mitigate hunger amidst nationwide protests. Commissioner Dr. Emeka Mandela had earlier emphasized the government’s commitment to making the palliative distribution a recurring event and highlighted the talent hunt as an opportunity for young talents. Unfortunately, Dr. Mandela had left the venue before the disorder erupted.
Criticism has poured in from some entertainers who felt misled about the event’s purpose. One critic remarked, “With or without the government, I dey chop well, I dey live well… why would you allow them to use you again?” Another added, “I came for a talent hunt but found myself in a gathering for sharing rice and beans. It was so disappointing.”
Anthony Odom (VJ Gentle) the Special Adviser to the Commissioner on Media and Entertainment, acknowledged the event’s mishaps, attributing the chaos to improper planning and crowd management. He clarified that the talent hunt was merely a flag-off, not the main event, and promised better organization in the future.
