At least 13 people, including four children, died in two separate stampedes in Nigeria as large crowds gathered to collect food and clothing distributed at annual Christmas events, police said on Saturday.
The two accidents came days after another such stampede in Africa’s most populous country, as local organizations, churches and individuals increasingly move toward organizing charity events ahead of Christmas as the country grapples with its worst cost of living crisis in a generation.
Ten people were killed in the first mass panic early Saturday at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama, an upscale part of the capital Abuja, police spokeswoman Josephine Adeh said in a statement. More than 1,000 people were evacuated from the church, she said.
A stampede broke out at one of the church gates as dozens tried to enter the grounds around 4 a.m., hours before gift items were to be distributed, witnesses said. Some had been waiting since the night before, they added.
“The way they rushed in, some people fell and some of them were old,” said Loveth Inyang, a witness. Inyang said he managed to save a baby while his mother struggled with the flood.
Three people died in a similar crush later in Okija, a town in southeastern Anambra state, at a charity event organized by a philanthropist, state police said.
“The event had not even started when the stampede began,” said police spokesman Tochukwu Ikenga. The death toll could rise as officials investigate the incident, he said.
Stampedes raise safety questions
Viral footage apparently from the crime scene in Abuja showed lifeless bodies lying on the ground as people shouted for help. Some of the injured were treated and released, while others continued to receive medical care, police said.
The church canceled the charity event because bags of rice and clothes were still distributed on the site.
When the church held a wedding ceremony after the crowd was evacuated, the anguish and sadness remained palpable even as families and friends gathered for wedding photos.
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu expressed condolences to the families of the victims and called on states and relevant authorities to enforce strict crowd control measures.
The stampedes have raised questions about security measures at such events. On Wednesday this week, several children were killed when a local foundation organized a well-attended fair to distribute gifts and food to children in the southwestern state of Oyo.
Following the recent disaster, the police in Abuja announced that permission must be obtained before organizing such charity events.
The current economic woes under Tinubu – who promised “renewed hope” when he was sworn in as president in May 2023 – are being blamed on rising inflation, which is at a 28-year high, and economic policies that have pushed the local currency to a Level has hit record low against the US dollar.
Frustration over the cost of living crisis has led to mass protests in recent months. In August, at least 20 people were shot and hundreds more arrested during protests demanding better opportunities and jobs for young people.
