15 killed in stampede at Nigerian political rally

NAIROBI - A stampede during a campaign rally for Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan left some 15 people dead and numerous injured at a stadium in southern Nigeria, local media said Sunday.

The stampede occured Saturday near the main entrance to a stadium where Jonathan’s party was holding an event in Port Harcourt. Security personnel trying to restore order fired into the air, exacerbating the panic, the Daily Sun newspaper reported.

Many women were reportedly among the dead.

The incumbent Jonathan is the front-runner in the presidential election scheduled for April.