Dozens killed in stampedes at aid distribution events in Nigeria

The deaths occurred at separate charity gatherings in the African nation on Saturday, police say

At least 32 people, including children, were killed and several others injured in “tragic stampede” incidents at two separate charity events in Nigeria over the weekend, according to authorities in the West African nation.

Police in the southeastern state of Anambra said in a statement on Sunday that a gathering at a community center in Okija on Saturday claimed the lives of 22 people.

Officials did not specify the event at which the fatal accident occurred. However, state broadcaster Radio Nigeria reported that the crowd had gathered at the venue to receive their share of bags of rice distributed to women ahead of the Christmas holiday season.

Ten locals, including four children, also died in another crowd crush in Maitama, a district of Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, on the same day, authorities said in a separate statement.

The “tragic incident” occurred while food items were being distributed to “vulnerable and elderly individuals” at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command said on Sunday. More than a thousand people attended the event, it said, adding that eight of them sustained “varying degrees of injuries.” 

READ MORE: Deaths in Nigeria after aid distribution stampede

“To prevent such tragic incidents in the future, the Command mandates that all organizations, religious bodies, groups, or individuals planning public events, charitable activities, or large gatherings in the FCT must notify the Police Command in advance,” the police stated.

“Failure to comply with this directive will result in the organizers being held liable for any incidents or loss of life resulting from negligence,” the authorities warned.

The incidents come just days after 35 children died in a stampede at a holiday funfair in the southwest city of Ibadan. According to local media reports, over 5,000 children had assembled at the venue, where organizers had promised scholarships and other prizes.

Nigeria has been plagued by economic hardship in recent months, following President Bola Tinubu’s elimination of fuel subsidies and sweeping exchange rate reform when he came into office in May 2023. In July last year, the government declared a state of emergency as a result of food shortages and surging prices.

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Earlier this year, at least seven people were killed in a stampede in Bauchi, in the northeastern region of Africa’s most populous country, when a crowd of residents gathered to reportedly receive 5,000 naira (around $3.20) each at a charity event.

In response to the latest chaos, President Tinubu canceled all of his official engagements in honor of the victims and urged state and local authorities to enforce strict crowd control policies.

‘‘In a season of joy and celebration, we grieve with fellow citizens mourning the painful losses of their loved ones. Our prayers of divine comfort and healing are with them,’‘ the Nigerian leader said.

Non-profit organization Amnesty International also issued a statement calling on the Nigerian government to “urgently prioritize addressing widespread hunger, higher unemployment, and the rapidly falling standard of living.”