Chaos at Asake Gig: Two Dead as Ticketless Fans Storm Venue
A wild scene erupted at a Nigerian Afrobeats concert when revellers without tickets tried to storm the venue. The desperate attempt led to tragedy, with two people dead and several injured at the Brixton O2 Academy on December 15.
Security Bribes Under Scrutiny
Security guard Gaby Hutchinson, 23, and Rebecca Ikumelo, 33, lost their lives in the chaos. Now, explosive claims have emerged that some security staff at the venue accepted bribes to let ticketless fans in. One insider revealed to BBC’s File On 4 that guards pocketed “a couple of hundred” each by allowing crowds access.
“People were taking money… Some employees made £1,000 cash. Our company knew what was going on and knew who was doing it, and they did nothing about it,” the security guard said.
Official Probe Launched Amid Licence Suspension
The Security Industry Authority (SIA) has launched its own investigation into the corruption claims, working alongside the Metropolitan Police.
SIA director Paul Fullwood said: “We take allegations of corruption by security operatives extremely seriously. We are reviewing licensing arrangements and will take action against any individuals or companies involved.”
Meanwhile, Lambeth Council’s licensing sub-committee suspended the venue’s licence for three months. Academy Music Group (AMG), the venue’s owner, backs the decision and has expressed condolences to the families affected.
Police Describe Deadly Crowd Surge
Gerald Gouriet KC, representing the Met Police, gave a harrowing account of the events:
- By 9pm, a crowd of roughly 1,000 formed outside the venue.
- Venue staff closed doors and called police at 9:04pm; officers arrived at 9:16pm.
- The crowd forced the doors open, flooding the lobby and auditorium.
- Several people fell and were trampled in the crush; the full extent of injuries is still unknown.
In addition to the two victims, a third person remains in critical condition in hospital.
