At least 10 people, including several children, lost their lives in a stampede during a relief item distribution at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in the Maitama district of Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, on Saturday, local authorities confirmed.
The tragic incident unfolded during an event organized by the church to distribute food and clothing to vulnerable families ahead of the Christmas holiday. The event, which was expected to benefit low-income residents from nearby villages and neighborhoods, quickly descended into chaos as over 3,000 people crowded into the church grounds. According to church officials, the large turnout overwhelmed the organizers, and as people surged forward in an attempt to secure aid, the stampede ensued.
Padre Mike Nsikak Umoh, spokesperson for the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, stated that the crowd included individuals from surrounding villages and impoverished suburbs who had arrived early, some as early as 4:00 a.m., despite the event being scheduled to start between 7:00 and 8:00 a.m. This early arrival, driven by desperation for the relief supplies, contributed to the overwhelming numbers present when the distribution began.
Witnesses reported that at least seven women and children were among the dead, with several others sustaining injuries. The identities of the victims have yet to be disclosed, and the church has expressed its deepest condolences to the families affected.
In the aftermath of the stampede, security forces, including military personnel and secret police, were swiftly deployed to the scene to restore order, disperse the panicked crowd, and secure the area. Despite the intervention, the event was abruptly suspended, and no further distribution of aid was carried out.
As of now, neither the Nigerian government nor security agencies have commented on the incident. Investigations are underway to determine the exact cause of the stampede and assess whether the tragedy could have been prevented.
The incident has raised serious concerns about the safety measures in place for large-scale relief distributions and the growing challenges faced by humanitarian efforts in Nigeria.
A Pattern of Tragedies
This incident comes just days after a similar stampede in Ibadan, southwest Nigeria, where 35 children tragically lost their lives during a carnival event. These back-to-back tragedies have reignited public outrage, with citizens demanding immediate action to address the root causes of poverty and hunger.
The incidents highlight the pressing need for systemic solutions to Nigeria’s economic challenges, as the country grapples with inflation, unemployment, and food insecurity that leave many vulnerable to such tragedies.