13 People Including Children Die in Stampedes In Nigeria At

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) – A minimum of 13 people, including 4 children, were eliminated in two separate stampedes in Nigeria as big crowds collected to gather food and clothes products distributed at yearly Christmas occasions, the cops said Saturday.

The 2 mishaps came days after another such stampede in Africa ´ s most populated country, amid a growing trend by local organizations, churches and people to arrange charity drive ahead of Christmas, as the country has problem with the worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation.

Ten individuals were killed in the very first stampede in the early hours at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama, an upmarket part of the capital, Abuja, police spokesperson Josephine Adeh said in a statement, adding that more than 1,000 individuals have been left from the church.

There was a crowd surge at one of the church gates, as dozens tried to enter the facilities at around 4 a.m., hours before the gift products were to be shared, witnesses said, pointing out that some had actually been waiting since the previous night.

“The method they were rushing to get in, some people were falling and a few of them were old,” Loveth Inyang, a witness. Inyang stated he handled to save one infant as his mom struggled in the rise.

Three individuals passed away in a similar crush later on in the southeastern Anambra state’s Okija town at a charity drive arranged by a benefactor, the state authorities said.

“The occasion had not even started when the rush began,” authorities spokesperson Tochukwu Ikenga said. There could be more deaths recorded as examine the incident, he said.

Viral video that appeared to be from the Abuja scene revealed lifeless bodies lying on the ground as individuals screamed for assistance. Some of the hurt have been dealt with and discharged while others continue to get treatment, authorities said.

The church canceled the charity drive with bags of rice and clothing items still set up within the properties.

As the church held a wedding after the crowd was evacuated, the pain and sadness remained palpable even as friends and families gathered for wedding event photos.

Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu expressed his sympathy with the victims’ families and asked states and pertinent authorities to enforce rigorous crowd control measures.

The current stampedes in Nigeria have raised concerns about security measures in such occasions. Several kids were eliminated on Wednesday today when a local foundation arranged a well-attended funfair to distribute gift products and food to kids in southwestern Oyo state.

After the current catastrophe, the police in Abuja announced that prior authorization must be gotten before such fundraiser are arranged.

The existing financial hardship under Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who guaranteed “renewed hope” when he was sworn into office in May 2023, is blamed on rising inflation that is at a 28-year high and the government ´ s financial policies that have pushed the local currency to record low against the dollar.

Frustration over the cost-of-living crisis has led to mass protests in recent months. In August, a minimum of 20 people were shot dead and numerous others were arrested at demonstrations requiring better opportunities and jobs for youths.