A stampede at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama, Abuja, early Saturday morning tragically claimed the lives of 10 individuals, including four children, while leaving eight others injured.
The incident occurred during the distribution of palliatives to vulnerable and elderly residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Chaos reportedly erupted as thousands scrambled for the food items, resulting in the tragic loss of lives.
Police Confirm Fatalities and Injuries
The FCT Police Command, through its spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, confirmed the fatalities and stated that four of the injured victims have been treated and discharged, while the remaining are still receiving medical attention.
In a statement issued shortly after the tragedy, SP Adeh said:
“This tragic event, which happened at about 6:30 am, led to a stampede that claimed the lives of ten (10) individuals, including four (4) children, and left eight (8) others with varying degrees of injuries. Four of the injured have been treated and discharged, while the remaining victims are receiving medical care.”
Police Issue New Guidelines to Prevent Recurrence
The FCT Police Command expressed condolences to the bereaved families and wished the injured victims a speedy recovery. To prevent future tragedies, the police have issued a directive requiring advance notification of any large gatherings, public events, or charitable activities in the FCT.
The statement emphasized:
“To prevent such unfortunate incidents in the future, the Command hereby directs that all organisations, religious bodies, groups, or individuals planning any public event, charitable activity, or large gathering in the FCT must notify the Police Command in advance.
This will allow the deployment of adequate security measures to ensure public safety and prevent avoidable tragedies. Failure to comply with this directive will result in the organisers being held liable for any incident or loss of life resulting from their negligence.”
Condolences and Calls for Responsibility
The tragic incident highlights the urgent need for better crowd management and security measures during public events. Authorities have called on event organisers to prioritise safety and ensure that appropriate protocols are in place to avoid similar occurrences.
This heartbreaking event has left the community in mourning and serves as a somber reminder of the importance of vigilance in safeguarding lives during humanitarian efforts.
