At least 10 people, including children, are feared dead, and
several others sustained injuries during a stampede at the Holy Trinity
Catholic Church in Maitama, Abuja, on Saturday morning.
Read Also: Ibadan funfair stampede: Pain of losing two
children indescribable — Distraught mother laments
The incident occurred as thousands of residents scrambled to
receive palliatives distributed by the church.
The event, organised to provide relief to struggling
residents, drew over 3,000 people, mostly from Mpape, Gishiri Village, and other
nearby settlements. The National Director of Social Communications at the
Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Padre Mike Nsikak Umoh, confirmed the tragic
development, noting the suspension of the palliative distribution.
“Yes it’s true but with sketchy details,” he said.
An eyewitness described the scene as chaotic and tragic,
revealing that at least seven of the deceased were children.
Many attendees arrived as early as 4:00 AM, hoping to secure
their share of the palliatives. The stampede occurred between 7:00 AM and 8:00
AM when the crowd surged forward.
“10 people have been reported dead, including children. We
just received a call that they have passed on.
“Over 3,000 people came out to receive the palliative. It’s
unfortunate. Some of them arrived as early as 4:00 AM. Most of those present
were residents of Mpape, Gishiri Village, and other nearby settlements.
“The stampede occurred between 7:00 AM and 8:00 AM. The
distribution of palliatives has been suspended indefinitely, and people are
dispersing. May God receive the souls of the departed and protect us from
harm,” the eyewitness, a mother of five, said.
In response to the chaos, a combined team of police,
military, and DSS officers was deployed to restore order and disperse the
crowd. The church premises, initially filled with anxious beneficiaries,
gradually cleared as security personnel enforced the suspension.
This tragedy mirrors a similar incident that occurred just
days earlier in Ibadan, Oyo State, where a stampede at a children’s funfair
resulted in the deaths of at least 35 children and left six others critically
injured. The event, held at the Islamic High School in Bashorun, Ibadan,
attracted over 5,000 children and turned fatal when attendees rushed to receive
food and gifts distributed by the organizers.
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