A tragic stampede at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama, Abuja, on Saturday, December 21, 2024, resulted in the deaths of 10 individuals and left many others injured.
The incident occurred during a charity event where the church was distributing food palliatives to assist the less fortunate in nearby communities.
The turnout was unexpectedly high, with people traveling from surrounding villages, leading to a chaotic and uncontrollable crowd.
Eyewitnesses reported scenes of confusion and panic as the crowd rushed to collect food.
Amid the chaos, 10 people were tragically crushed, while many others suffered serious injuries and were taken to local hospitals for care.
SP Josephine Adeh, spokesperson for the Abuja Police Command, confirmed the incident, offering condolences to the families of the deceased and wishing the injured a speedy recovery.
This incident follows closely on the heels of a similar disaster in Ibadan just two days earlier, where over 30 children died and many were injured during a similar food distribution event.
Authorities have called for improved crowd management and safety measures at future charity events to prevent such tragic occurrences.