13 People Including Children Die in Stampedes In Nigeria At

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) – A minimum of 13 individuals, including 4 children, were eliminated in 2 different stampedes in Nigeria as large crowds gathered to gather food and clothes items distributed at yearly Christmas events, the authorities said Saturday.

The two accidents came days after another such stampede in Africa ´ s most populous nation, in the middle of a growing trend by regional companies, churches and people to arrange fundraiser ahead of Christmas, as the country has problem with the worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation.

Ten people were eliminated in the first stampede in the early hours at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama, an upmarket part of the capital, Abuja, authorities spokesman Josephine Adeh stated in a statement, adding that more than 1,000 people have been left from the church.

There was a crowd surge at one of the church gates, as dozens tried to go into the premises at around 4 a.m., hours before the present items were to be shared, witnesses stated, explaining that some had been waiting because the previous night.

“The way they were hurrying to get in, some people were falling and a few of them were old,” Loveth Inyang, a witness. Inyang said he managed to rescue one infant as his mother had a hard time in the surge.

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

“The occasion had actually not even started when the rush began,” authorities spokesman Tochukwu Ikenga stated. There might be more deaths tape-recorded as officers examine the event, he said.

Viral footage that appeared to be from the Abuja scene revealed lifeless bodies lying on the ground as individuals screamed for help. A few of the hurt have been dealt with and released while others continue to get treatment, authorities stated.

The church canceled the charity drive with bags of rice and clothing products still arranged within the premises.

As the church held a marriage event after the crowd was left, the agony and palpable even as friends and families gathered for wedding pictures.

Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu revealed his compassion with the victims’ households and asked states and relevant authorities to enforce stringent crowd control measures.

The current stampedes in Nigeria have raised questions about safety measures in such events. Several kids were eliminated on Wednesday today when a local foundation organized a well-attended funfair to disperse gift items and food to kids in southwestern Oyo state.

After the newest disaster, the authorities in Abuja revealed that previous consent must be obtained before such charity events are organized.

The existing financial hardship under Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who promised “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 federal government ´ s financial policies that have pushed the local currency to tape low against the dollar.

Frustration over the cost-of-living crisis has resulted in mass demonstrations in current months. In August, a minimum of 20 people were shot dead and hundreds of others were jailed at protests demanding much better chances and jobs for young people.