Another stampede during a palliative distribution event by the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in the Maitama area of Abuja has raised the death toll from similar incidents to 65 in only four days.
The scramble to receive the palliatives from the church led to not less than 10 deaths from the stampede, with many more injured, on Saturday.
The palliative distribution attracted residents from Mpape, Gishiri and other nearby villages.
Josephine Adeh, Public Relations Officer of the FCT Police, stated that 10 people were confirmed dead and eight others were injured.
READ ALSO: UPDATED: Many Feared Dead as Anambra Rice Sharing Event Leads to Stampede
Adeh noted that four of the injured victims had been treated and discharged, while the remaining four received medical care.
“This tragic event, which happened at about 6:30 am, led to a stampede that claimed the lives of ten (10) individuals, including four (4) children, and left eight (8) others with varying degrees of injuries. Four (4) of the injured have been treated and discharged, while the remaining victims are receiving medical care,” the police stated on X.
The FCT Police also added that every charitable activity that would lead to a large gathering of people must be reported to them before they proceed.
“To prevent such unfortunate incidents in the future, the Command hereby directs that all organisations, religious bodies, groups, or individuals planning any public event, charitable activity, or large gathering in the FCT must notify the Police Command in advance,” the police stated.
READ ALSO: 7 Bauchi Women Die in Stampede for N10,000 Ramadan Palliative
The Abuja fatal stampede is the third to happen in Nigeria in five days.
FIJ had earlier reported about a stampede that occurred in Anambra on Saturday. That incident claimed about 20 lives when a crowd of people were scrambling to get their share of rice.
In Ibadan, 35 children were killed in a stampede that took place in the Basorun area of Oyo State on Wednesday.
The victims were attempting to join a children’s Christmas party hosted by Naomi Silekunola Ogunwusi, an ex-wife of the Ooni of Ife.
That event promised freebies.
The programme was publicised by Agidigbo FM, an Ibadan-based radio station. FIJ gathered that the crowd camped at the event very early before the shoving started.
