UNTOLD STORY: Children fainted, parents exchanged punches at #DayStarBackToSchool giveaway
At least 5,000 children recieved school packs from DayStar Christian Center on September 10.
Although someone said the church “went against God” by publicising the gesture, #DayStarBackToSchool has been applauded by many.
However, the alleged conduct of some parents at the Oregun, Lagos based church during the giveaway has drawn displeasure.
Some parents were also not happy their children got nothing despite the church saying “we’ve got a huge crowd here but God has made provisions for everybody”.
“My children got up as early as 4am and were already at the church by 5am,” a parent whose two daughters missed out on the goodies told NewsroomNG.
“To my surprise, the children returned with nothing but drenched clothes because it rained,” she said.
An estimated 15,000 children were at DayStar for the giveaway but the church said only 5,000 students benefited from the program.
We gathered some children also collapsed as members of the crowd physically competed for access to books, school bags, pens and pencils.
Officials had to lock the church’s main gate to control the crowd.
Iya Emeka, another parent whose children showed up but got nothing, said it wasn’t the church’s fault.
WATCH: Mammoth crowd at DayStarBackToSchool giveaway
Over 15k kids for @backtoschool items @DaystarNG. I just hope d items ll be enuf 4 them.@NikeAdeyemi @sam_adeyemi pic.twitter.com/nDr89zgIZC
— ‘Biodun Adegoke (@OffizialBiodun) September 10, 2016
“Many of the parents came with their children and were very rowdy,” she said. “Some of them even jumped queues and fought each other.”
“This has never happened before. I don’t blame DayStar. Sam Adeyemi (church leader) is our man. My children benefited from the programme last year so I can’t complain.”
“When I heard children were fainting, I rushed to the church and dragged my son home,” another parent said.
We gathered those who slumped were treated at the church clinic and hurriedly discharged.
We asked DayStar about the reports.
“Well I wouldn’t know because I wasn’t at the programme,” a church worker told our correspondent.
Repeated attempts to reach DayStar via phone proved abortive as our calls were not answered.
