A tragic stampede at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Maitama, Abuja, on Saturday morning, claimed the lives of at least 10 people, including four children, and left eight others injured during a food distribution event for vulnerable and elderly individuals.
Key Details:
- Time of Incident: Around 6:30 AM.
- Casualties:
- 10 confirmed dead, including four children at the Abuja Church Stampede.
- 8 individuals sustained injuries; four have been discharged after treatment, while others remain hospitalized.
- Crowd Size: Over 1,000 individuals were present at the event, leading to chaos at the Abuja Church Stampede.
Police Response:
- Statement: FCT Police Command spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, confirmed the incident.
- Actions Taken:
- The FCT Rapid Response Squad and FCT Joint Task Force evacuated the crowd to prevent further casualties.
- The Commissioner of Police, CP Olatunji Disu, visited victims in the hospital to offer support.
Preventative Measures:
The police have mandated that organizations, religious groups, and individuals notify the FCT Police Command of any large gatherings or charitable events to ensure adequate security arrangements. Failure to comply will hold organizers liable for any resulting tragedies.
Broader Context:
This incident follows a similar tragedy in Ibadan, Oyo State, earlier this week, where a stampede at a children’s funfair resulted in the deaths of 35 children and left six others critically injured.
Authorities are urging calm as investigations continue, while offering condolences to the families affected at the Abuja Church Stampede.