Commotion as Imo Residents Invade City Boy Rally Venue in Owerri, Cart Away Empowerment Materials; Participants Scamper for Safety

A rally organised by the City Boy Movement in Owerri, the Imo State capital, descended into chaos on Saturday after residents stormed the venue, carting away empowerment materials and forcing participants to flee.

The rally was organised by supporters of Bola Tinubu under the platform of the City Boy Movement, a political group mobilising support for the president ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Witnesses said the event had attracted a large crowd before the situation became disorderly. According to attendees, there was little crowd control as the number of people at the venue increased.

Trouble began when some residents reportedly pushed into the rally ground, creating confusion among participants. The situation quickly escalated, with people running in different directions as the gathering broke down.

Videos from the scene showed several individuals carrying away items that had been brought for distribution as part of an empowerment programme at the rally.

Among the items taken were tailoring machines, refrigerators and other equipment believed to have been prepared for beneficiaries.

The disorder spread within minutes, with loud shouting and pushing as some participants tried to leave the venue while others struggled to secure the items.

Clips circulating online showed groups of people leaving the rally ground with various materials believed to be part of the empowerment packages.

The City Boy Movement is one of several political support groups backing the administration of Bola Tinubu and seeking to build grassroots support ahead of the next presidential election, although the president has not formally declared his intention to seek another term.

As of the time of filing this report, organisers of the rally and security agencies in Imo State had not issued an official statement on the incident. It was also unclear whether anyone was injured during the disruption.