Nigeria records death of seventeen people in Anambra State in a stampede during rice sharing. Also, thirty-five deaths have been recorded in Ibadan during a funfair stampede and ten fatalities were recorded in Abuja where palliatives were distributed.
Reportedly, some of the eye witnesses described the scenes as chaotic and tragic. One of the witnesses said that at least seven of the deceased in the Abuja tragedy were children.
Anambra Tragedy
Here 17 people were confirmed dead and several others sustained injuries at Okija, Ihiala Local Government Area, followed by a stampede during the distribution of Christmas rice by officials of Obijackson Foundation.
The foundation distributes such gifts annually for many years and people in the entire Ihiala local government and other neighbouring communities who always looked forward to it.
According to an eyewitness, the victims were mostly women and youths. They have stationed themselves at the facility as early as 5:00 a.m. on Saturday, as the waiting for the distribution to begin at dawn.
The eyewitness said that the crowd became uncontrollable when the distribution began and led to the stampede. Dead bodies and those who sustained injuries were rushed to the Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Ihiala.
A video from the incident is getting viral which shows dead bodies that includes pregnant women, littered the vicinity of the hospital’s mortuary. The video also showed chaotic scenes of people who rushed to escape. With some who were trying t receive those who fell unconscious.
The state police command is yet to confirm the incident but many relatives of the victims were seen devastated and hopeless.
Abuja Tragedy
Ten deaths including children are feared dead and several others were sustained with injuries during a stampede at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama, Abuja on Saturday morning.
The incident occurred as thousands of residents scrambled to receive palliatives that were distributed by the church. The event was organised to provide relief to struggling residents, who drew over 3,000 people mostly from Mpape, Gishiri Village and other nearby settlements.
The National Director of Social Communications at the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria – Padre Mike Nsikak Umoh confirmed the tragic development. He noted that the palliative distribution was suspended. He stated that it is true but with sketchy details.
Many attendees arrived as early as 4:00 a.m. in hope to secure their share of the palliatives. The stampede occurred between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. when the crowd surged forward.
An eyewitness who is a mother of five said that ten people were reported dead, including children. They just received a call that they have passed on. More than 3000 people came out to receive the palliative and it is unfortunate.
She added that most of them present were residents of Mpape, Gishiri Village and other nearby settlements. May God receive the souls of the departed and protect all from harm.
Responding on this chaos, a combined team of police, military and DSS officers was deployed to restore order and disperse the crowd. The church premises was initially filled with anxious beneficiaries who gradually cleared as security personnel and enforced the suspension.
Such tragedy mirrors similar incident that occurred just few days ago in Ibadan, Oyo State, where as stampede at a children’s funfair resulted in the deaths of 35 children and six were injured badly.
The event was held at the Islamic High School in Bashorun, Ibadan that attracted more than 5000 children and turned fatal when attendees rushed to receive food and gifts which were distributed by the organisers.