Abuja: At least 10 people, including four children, lost their lives in a stampede during a relief distribution event at a local church in Maitama, Abuja, the capital of Nigeria.
Josephine Adeh, spokesperson for the Federal Capital Territory police, confirmed in a statement that eight others were injured when the distribution of food and clothing ahead of Christmas celebrations turned chaotic at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church on Saturday. “Four of the injured had been treated and discharged, while the remaining victims are currently receiving medical care,” Adeh said, noting the police successfully evacuated “a crowd, numbering over a thousand.”
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Padre Mike Nsikak Umoh, spokesperson for the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, said the event, which drew over 3,000 people from nearby villages and low-income areas, was abruptly halted following the tragedy. Witnesses reported that many attendees arrived as early as 4:00 am local time, despite the event being scheduled for between 7:00 and 8:00 am, according to Xinhua news agency.
In a separate incident, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu confirmed another deadly stampede on Saturday morning in Okija, Anambra state, during a rice distribution initiative. “The two tragedies claimed many lives and left many others injured,” Tinubu said, canceling his official duties for the day in honor of the victims.
The president also referenced a previous stampede in Ibadan on Wednesday, which claimed at least 35 lives and left six critically injured. He urged local and state authorities to enforce stricter crowd control measures nationwide. “Local and state authorities should no longer tolerate operational lapses by organisations and corporate bodies involved in charitable and humanitarian activities,” Tinubu said.
