No fewer than 10 persons, including children, have lost their lives on Saturday morning in a stampede at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama, Abuja.
The incident, which occurred just days after 32 persons, mostly children, died at a yuletide carnival in Ibadan, was triggered by the distribution of palliative by the church.
The National Director of Social Communications at the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Padre Mike Nsikak Umoh, confirmed the tragic event and announced the suspension of the distribution.
An eyewitness told Naija Daily News, “Many people were scrambling to reach the collection point and were not patient.”
Many other sources said a mad rush and bickering sparked off the stampede as dozens of would-be beneficiaries arrived at the scene early to secure vantage positions.
“The stampede occurred between 7:00 and 8:00 AM when the crowd surged forward. Among the deceased, at least seven were children.
Security forces, including police and military personnel, were deployed to restore order, and the church premises were eventually cleared.
Officials blamed the incident on a lack of proper planning by the organisers of the event and impatience by the crowd.
This incident follows a similar tragedy in Ibadan, Oyo State, where over 35 children perished during a children’s funfair at the Islamic High School in Bashorun, as attendees rushed to collect food and gifts.
A former wife of the current Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi (Ojaja II), who was the organiser of the Ibadan event is currently being detained by the police over the incident.
