*10 die in Abuja, over 20 killed in Anambra
*Several others injured
No less than 10 persons have died, while many were reported injured in a stampede at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama, Abuja, on Saturday morning during the distribution of food items to vulnerable and elderly individuals.
This is as over 20 people were reportedly killed on Saturday during a stampede in Okija, a community in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria’s South-east.
The tragic Abuja incident occurred during a palliative distribution event organised by the Catholic church to support struggling residents.
A statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, FCT Police Command, SP Josephine Adeh, said the unfortunate incident, which took place around 6:30 am, resulted in a stampede that claimed the lives of 10 individuals, including four children, and left eight others with varying degrees of injuries.
While four of the injured have been treated and discharged, the remaining victims are currently receiving medical care.
The FCT Police Rapid Response Squad and the FCT Joint Task Force said they had successfully evacuated the remaining crowd, which numbered over a thousand. Over 3,000 people, including children primarily from nearby settlements such as Mpape and Gishiri Village, had gathered for the event before the unfortunate incident occurred.
The National Director of Social Communications at the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Mike Umoh, confirmed the incident.
“Yes, it’s true, but the details are sketchy,” he said in a brief statement.
Witnesses in Okija, Anabra State, said that the victims had gone to take part in the sharing of bags of rice donated by a renowned entrepreneur, Ernest Obiejesi, popularly known as Obijackson. The latest incidents are occurring days after 35 people, mostly children, died leaving six others critically injured, during a stampede at a children’s funfair in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria’s South-west.
