By Patrick Idowu
At least 10 people, including children, are feared dead, and several others injured in a stampede during a palliative distribution at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Maitama, Abuja, on Saturday morning.
The event, meant to aid over 3,000 struggling residents from Mpape, Gishiri Village, and nearby settlements, turned chaotic when the crowd surged between 7:00 AM and 8:00 AM.
Many attendees had arrived as early as 4:00 AM to secure their share.
This tragic and deadly stampede marks the third within days.
In Anambra State, several lives were lost during a rice distribution event in Okija, while in Ibadan, Oyo State, a stampede at a children’s funfair claimed over 35 lives.
Confirming the tragic development, the National Director of Social Communications, Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN), Padre Mike Nsikak Umoh announced the indefinite suspension of the distribution.
Eyewitnesses described the scene as harrowing, with lifeless bodies, mostly children, scattered at the site.
Security personnel, including police, military, and DSS officers, were deployed to restore order and disperse the crowd.
It is worthy to note that the growing frequency of such tragedies highlights the urgent need for better crowd management during public events to prevent further loss of life.
