13 People Including Children Die in Stampedes In Nigeria At

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) – A minimum of 13 people, including four children, were killed in two different stampedes in Nigeria as big crowds collected to collect food and clothing items dispersed at yearly Christmas occasions, the authorities said Saturday.

The 2 mishaps came days after another such stampede in Africa ´ s most populous nation, amidst a growing trend by local organizations, churches and individuals to arrange charity drive ahead of Christmas, as the nation battles with the worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation.

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

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

“The way they were rushing to get in, some people were falling and some of them were old,” Loveth Inyang, a witness. Inyang stated he managed to save one infant as his mom had a hard time in the rise.

Three people died in a similar crush later in the southeastern Anambra state’s Okija town at a fundraiser arranged by a benefactor, the state authorities said.

“The event had actually not even begun when the rush started,” authorities representative Tochukwu Ikenga said. There could be more deaths tape-recorded as officers investigate the event, he stated.

Viral video that seemed from the Abuja scene revealed lifeless bodies resting on the ground as people shouted for help. Some of the injured have been treated and released while others continue to receive healthcare, cops said.

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

As the church held a marital relationship ceremony after the crowd was evacuated, the misery and unhappiness remained palpable even as households and buddies collected for wedding pictures.

Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu expressed his compassion with the victims’ households and asked states and appropriate authorities to impose rigorous crowd control measures.

The recent stampedes in Nigeria have raised concerns about security measures in such events. Several kids were eliminated on Wednesday this week when a local foundation arranged a well-attended funfair to disperse present products and food to kids in southwestern Oyo state.

After the current disaster, the authorities in Abuja announced that previous permission needs to be obtained before such fundraiser are arranged.

The present financial challenge under Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who assured “restored 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 versus the dollar.

Frustration over the cost-of-living crisis has actually caused mass demonstrations in recent months. In August, at least 20 individuals were shot dead and hundreds of others were detained at demonstrations demanding much better opportunities and jobs for young people.