ABUJA, Nigeria — A tragic series of events unfolded in Nigeria, where at least 13 individuals, including four children, lost their lives in two distinct stampedes as large crowds gathered for food and clothing distributions during annual Christmas celebrations, authorities reported on Saturday.
These incidents occurred just days after another stampede in Nigeria, highlighting an increasing trend among local charities, churches, and individuals to host such events amid the country’s severe cost-of-living crisis, which is being described as the worst in decades.
The first stampede happened early in the morning at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama, a wealthy area of the nation’s capital, Abuja. According to police spokesperson Josephine Adeh, ten individuals perished, and more than 1,000 people had to be evacuated from the church premises. Witnesses reported that a surge at one of the church entrances occurred as people rushed to get in at roughly 4 a.m. Many individuals had been queuing since the previous night, eager to receive the gifts being distributed.
Loveth Inyang, a witness to the chaos, described how the crowd surged dangerously towards the entrance, causing numerous falls, particularly among older attendees. Inyang recounted, “I managed to rescue one baby while the mother struggled amidst the crowd.”
A second stampede resulted in three fatalities during a similar charity event in Okija town, located in Anambra state in southeastern Nigeria. Police spokesman Tochukwu Ikenga reported that the crush occurred even before the event had officially started, and he indicated there may be additional casualties as investigations proceed.
Disturbing video footage purportedly from the scene in Abuja captured the harrowing sight of bodies on the ground while people cried out for assistance. Some of the injured were treated and discharged, while others were still receiving medical attention, according to police updates. The church subsequently canceled the charity event and left bags of rice and clothing items that were intended for distribution unclaimed inside the premises.
Even as the church held a wedding ceremony after the crowd had been dispersed, sorrow lingered in the air, contrasting with the joyful gathering of families and friends for celebration photographs. President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria expressed his condolences to the families affected and urged local authorities to implement stringent crowd control measures during such events.
These recent stampedes have scrutinized the safety protocols in place for public gatherings. A separate incident earlier in the week resulted in the deaths of several children when a local foundation organized a crowded funfair in southwestern Oyo state to distribute gifts and food.
Following the deadly occurrences, police in Abuja mandated that prior approval is required for organizing charity events. As Nigeria faces these mounting economic difficulties under President Bola Tinubu, who promised “renewed hope” upon taking office in May 2023, soaring inflation rates, the highest in nearly three decades, and the government’s economic strategies have led the local currency to reach unprecedented lows against the U.S. dollar.
Growing frustration over the cost-of-living challenges has sparked large-scale protests in recent months, with at least 20 individuals shot dead during demonstrations in August demanding better job opportunities for the nation’s youth.