A tragic stampede at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Abuja’s Maitama District on Saturday morning left 10 people, including four children, dead and several others injured. The incident occurred during a palliative distribution event aimed at aiding underprivileged residents amidst Nigeria’s worsening cost-of-living crisis.
The FCT Police Command, through spokesperson Josephine Adeh, confirmed that eight people were injured, with four treated and discharged. The event reportedly drew over 3,000 people, leading to chaotic scenes when attendees scrambled for food and clothing items.
The Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Department (FEMD) also confirmed the fatalities, appealing for better crowd control measures and urging organizers of similar events to involve security agencies to prevent such tragedies.
Witnesses recounted that the stampede began around 6 a.m. as crowds pushed to access the church’s car park where relief materials were being distributed. Shoes and clothing left behind by victims painted a grim picture of the incident.
Authorities have emphasized the need for prior notification to law enforcement for future public gatherings to ensure safety. Both the police and FEMD expressed condolences to the families of the victims, urging preventive measures to avoid a recurrence.
