At least 20 members of the Arise and Shine Ministry have been reported dead, with more than 16 others in critical condition following a stampede which occurred at a church meeting.

Information gathered by ABC News indicates that the incident occurred during a church meeting at a stadium in the northern city of Moshi, Tanzania.

According to a statement by the Tanzanian government sighted by ABC News, the stampede was caused by church faithful being ushered to pass through one exit at the meeting venue so that they could walk on “anointed oil.”

Hundreds of worshippers are reported to have attended the prayer meeting held on Saturday, February 1.

Meanwhile, leader of the church, Boniface Mwamposa has been arrested after the deaths. The charges against him are yet to be formalised but a government spokesperson has attributed the arrest to Mr. Mwamposa’s failure to take sufficient precautions to protect the church members. He’s also being held for violating the terms of a permit he secured for the church meeting. ABC News