Yohaig 9ja News

13 People Including Children Die in Stampedes In Nigeria At

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) – At least 13 individuals, consisting of 4 children, were killed in 2 separate stampedes in Nigeria as large crowds collected to collect food and clothes products dispersed at yearly Christmas occasions, the cops stated Saturday.

The two accidents came days after another such stampede in Africa ´ s most populated country, amidst a growing trend by local companies, churches and individuals to arrange charity drive ahead of Christmas, as the country deals with the worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation.

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

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

“The method they were rushing to enter, some individuals were falling and some of them were old,” Loveth Inyang, a witness. Inyang stated he handled to rescue one infant as his mom struggled in the surge.

Three individuals died in a comparable crush later in the southeastern Anambra state’s Okija town at a fundraiser organized by a philanthropist, the state police said.

“The occasion had not even begun when the rush started,” cops spokesperson Tochukwu Ikenga said. There could be more deaths recorded as officers examine the occurrence, he said.

Viral footage that seemed from the Abuja scene revealed lifeless bodies pushing the ground as individuals yelled for aid. A few of the hurt have been dealt with and released while others continue to get treatment, cops said.

The church canceled the charity drive with bags of rice and clothes products still organized within the properties.

As the church held a marital relationship ceremony after the crowd was left, the pain and sadness stayed palpable even as friends and families collected for wedding pictures.

Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu expressed his compassion with the victims’ families and asked states and pertinent authorities to impose stringent crowd control steps.

The current stampedes in Nigeria have raised questions about safety procedures in such events. Several kids were killed on Wednesday this week when a local foundation organized a well-attended funfair to distribute present and food to kids in southwestern Oyo state.

After the most recent catastrophe, the cops in Abuja announced that prior permission must be acquired before such charity events are organized.

The present economic hardship under Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who promised “renewed hope” when he was sworn into workplace in May 2023, is blamed on surging inflation that is at a 28-year high and the federal government ´ s economic policies that have pushed the regional currency to tape low versus the dollar.

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