Abuja, Nigeria: A stampede during a palliative distribution at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama, Abuja, has left at least 10 people dead, including children, and several others injured. The tragic incident occurred on Saturday morning as thousands of residents gathered to receive relief items distributed by the church.
The event, intended to alleviate hardship among residents, attracted over 3,000 people from communities such as Mpape, Gishiri Village, and other nearby settlements. However, the distribution turned chaotic when the crowd surged forward between 7:00 AM and 8:00 AM, resulting in the fatal stampede.
Padre Mike Nsikak Umoh, National Director of Social Communications at the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, confirmed the incident, stating, “Yes, it’s true, but with sketchy details.”
According to Vanguard, the eyewitnesses described the scene as devastating, with at least seven of the deceased reported to be children.
“Over 3,000 people came out to receive the palliatives, with many arriving as early as 4:00 AM,” said one witness, a mother of five. “It’s unfortunate. The stampede occurred between 7:00 AM and 8:00 AM. The distribution has now been suspended indefinitely, and security personnel are dispersing the crowd. May God receive the souls of the departed and protect us from such harm.”
In response to the tragedy, a combined team of police, military, and DSS officers was deployed to restore order and ensure the safe dispersal of the crowd.
This incident echoes another recent tragedy in Ibadan, Oyo State, where a stampede during a children’s funfair claimed the lives of at least 35 children and critically injured six others. The event, held at the Islamic High School in Bashorun, turned deadly when thousands of attendees rushed to collect food and gifts distributed by organizers.
The Abuja stampede has reignited calls for better crowd management and safety measures during public relief distributions to prevent such tragedies in the future.
