Confusion and tragedy struck the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama, Abuja, on Saturday, December 21, as a stampede claimed the lives of at least 10 people and left several others injured.
The stampede occurred between 6:30 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. during a palliative distribution event organized by the church.
Witnesses reported that a large crowd of residents, including children and adults from areas like Mpape and Gishiri Village, had gathered to receive relief items.
Sources revealed that the chaotic scene unfolded as the crowd surged, leading to the loss of lives and injuries. Among the victims were children, adding to the sorrow of the tragic incident.
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The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command confirmed the incident through its spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, who extended condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and wished the injured a swift recovery.
In response to the tragedy, Adeh announced measures to prevent future occurrences, emphasizing the importance of coordinating public events with the police.
“This will allow the deployment of adequate security measures to ensure public safety and prevent avoidable tragedies. Failure to comply with this directive will result in the organisers being held liable for any incident of loss of life resulting from their negligence,” Adeh stated.
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She also reiterated the FCT Police Command’s commitment to protecting lives and property and urged the public to adhere strictly to safety guidelines.
This unfortunate event comes just days after a similar incident in Ibadan, Oyo State, where a stampede at a children’s Christmas funfair claimed the lives of 35 children and injured several others.
The palliative distribution in Abuja was reportedly aimed at providing relief to underserved residents of the FCT. However, the tragic outcome has raised concerns about the management and security of such events.
Authorities and organizations have been urged to prioritize crowd control and safety measures to prevent future tragedies of this nature.