By Karen James
Abuja, Nigeria – December 21, 2024
At least 10 people are feared dead and many others injured in a stampede at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama, Abuja, on Saturday morning. The tragedy unfolded during a palliative distribution event organized by the church to assist struggling residents in the area.
The event, aimed at supporting residents from Mpape, Gishiri Village, and other nearby settlements, reportedly turned chaotic when an overwhelming crowd surged forward to receive the aid.
Eyewitnesses stated that the stampede occurred between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m., as the growing crowd became increasingly uncontrollable.
This incident follows a similar tragedy just days ago in Ibadan, Oyo State, where a stampede at a children’s funfair claimed the lives of 35 children and left six others critically injured, sparking nationwide concerns over crowd management at public events.
Efforts to reach the spokesperson for the Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Department, Nkechi Isa, for further comments have been unsuccessful. However, local sources revealed that emergency services were slow to arrive, leaving survivors and community members to assist the injured and transport the deceased to nearby hospitals.
An eyewitness, Bala Ibrahim, described the scene:
“The crowd was massive, and people were desperate. Everyone wanted to get something to take home, but the moment the gates opened, it became a fight for survival. Many fell, and others trampled over them.”
The distribution program, though well-intentioned, has raised questions about the preparedness of organizers to handle large crowds. Critics are calling for better planning and the involvement of security personnel in future aid events to prevent such tragedies.
As investigations begin, the incident has cast a somber shadow over Abuja, with families mourning the loss of loved ones and survivors grappling with injuries and trauma. Community leaders and humanitarian organizations are urging for a reevaluation of crowd control measures during relief distribution to avoid further loss of lives.
