Holiday charity tragedy in Nigeria: 10 lives lost in food stampede
In Abuja, the capital of Nigeria, 10 people, including children, lost their lives during a holiday charity event at a church. The crowd trampled participants while food was being distributed.
A tragic incident took place in Nigeria's capital during a holiday charity event at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Abuja. The panic that ensued as the crowd gathered for free food resulted in the deaths of 10 people, including four children, according to AP. Police spokeswoman Josephine Adeh announced this in a statement on Saturday.
The incident occurred early in the morning when a large crowd attempted to enter the church to receive assistance. More than 1,000 people were evacuated due to the ensuing chaos. Videos from the scene of the tragedy, showing lifeless bodies and people calling for help, have surfaced online.
This is the second such incident in Nigeria within the week, reports ABC. Several children reportedly died in a similar event earlier. In a country where the cost of living has risen sharply, numerous charity events are organized before Christmas. The Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria has urged all parishes in the country to implement proper crowd control measures to prevent future incidents.
Since May 2023, when President Bola Tinubu took office, inflation in Nigeria reached a record high of 28%. The naira, the local currency, fell to its lowest level ever against the dollar, explains AP. The deteriorating economic situation triggered mass protests, during which at least 20 people were killed in August, and hundreds were arrested. Protesters demanded, among other things, more employment opportunities for young people.
The authorities are unyielding, imprisoning teenagers aged 14-17 for treason when they protest against the dire economic situation. In Nigeria, treason carries the death penalty.
The tragedy in Abuja exemplifies how the tough economic situation is affecting the lives of Nigerians. The rising cost of living and lack of prospects for improvement lead to desperate actions, such as mass gatherings at charity events.
