,,,,,,Heartbroken Parents in Ibadan Recount Tragic Loss of Children.
The stamped in Abuja on Saturday.
By Barth Ikiebe and Dada Ahmed
At least 10 people, including children, lost their lives in a tragic stampede at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama, Abuja, FCT on Saturday morning.
Several others sustained injuries as thousands of desperate residents scrambled to receive palliatives distributed by the church.
Sources told our correspondent that the event, aimed at alleviating the hardships faced by struggling residents, attracted over 3,000 people, predominantly from Mpape, Gishiri Village, and other nearby areas.
Padre Mike Nsikak Umoh, the National Director of Social Communications at the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, confirmed the incident, announcing the suspension of the palliative distribution.
Eyewitness accounts described the scene as chaotic. “At least seven of the deceased were children. Many people arrived as early as 4:00 AM to secure their share of the palliatives,” an eyewitness and mother of five recounted.
“The stampede happened between 7:00 AM and 8:00 AM when the crowd surged forward. May God receive the souls of the departed,” the source said.
Security forces, including the police, military, and DSS officers, were deployed to restore order, eventually clearing the church premises as the distribution was suspended indefinitely.
The online publication recalls that the latest devastating event comes just days after a similar tragedy in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Tragic Stampede in Maitama: FCT Police Command Calls For Strict Adeherence To Event Notification
The FCT Police Command has expressed profound sorrow over the tragic incident.
The Police Public Relations Officer,PPRO for the Command, SP Josephine Adeh, told newsmen that the unfortunate event, which took place around 6:30 AM, resulted in 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 (4) of the injured have been treated and discharged, while the remaining victims continue to receive medical care”, she added.
According to her,the FCT Police Rapid Response Squad and the FCT Joint Task Force have successfully evacuated the remaining crowd, which numbered over a thousand.
“The FCT Police Command extends its heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased and wishes a swift recovery to the injured,” added.
The Commissioner of Police,CP. Olatunji Disu, has demonstrated compassion and support by visiting the victims in the hospital, offering assistance and reassurance during this challenging time.
To prevent similar tragedies in the future, the Command has directed all organizations, religious bodies, groups, or individuals planning public events, charitable activities, or large gatherings in the FCT to notify the Police Command in advance.
He said the notification is essential for the deployment of adequate security measures to ensure public safety and prevent avoidable incidents.
Non-compliance with this directive will result in the organizers being held accountable for any incidents or loss of life caused by negligence,he stressed.
The FCT Police Command remains dedicated to protecting lives and property within the Territory.
We encourage the public to cooperate with the Police by adhering to these guidelines and promptly reporting emergencies through the FCT Control Room at 0803 200 3913 or 0806 032 1234, the police boss said.
Some members of the public who spoke with our correspondent in Lokoja expressed concern over
the recurring nature of these tragic incidents and called for better crowd management and safety measures during large-scale relief distributions and public events.
