At least 10 people, including children, lost their lives in a stampede that occurred on Saturday morning at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama, Abuja. The tragic event took place during an aid distribution program organized for residents of Mpape, Gishiri Village, and surrounding areas.
The stampede happened around 7:00 AM as thousands of people gathered to receive relief items. Reports indicate that over 3,000 individuals were present, with many arriving as early as 4:00 AM. Several others sustained injuries in the incident.
An eyewitness described the scene as overwhelming and deeply sorrowful, noting that at least seven children were among the deceased. “It’s heartbreaking. We’ve received confirmation that 10 people, including children, have died. Many arrived very early to receive the aid, but the stampede occurred between 7:00 AM and 8:00 AM. The distribution has been suspended, and people are now leaving. May the souls of the departed rest in peace,” the eyewitness said.
The National Director of Social Communications at the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Padre Mike Nsikak Umoh, confirmed that the relief distribution has been put on hold indefinitely. Security personnel, including police, military officers, and DSS operatives, were deployed to the scene to restore order, and the area has since been cleared.
This incident adds to a series of similar tragedies in the country, such as recent stampedes in Ibadan, Oyo State, and Okija, Anambra State, where inadequate crowd management led to loss of life. These occurrences have raised serious concerns about safety measures during large public gatherings.
The church and government authorities have expressed their condolences to the grieving families. Investigations are expected to identify the factors that led to the tragedy and to recommend measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
