The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has detained the parish priest and some officials of Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Abuja following a stampede that caused multiple fatalities.
The tragic event occurred during a distribution of groceries to the less privileged at the church’s car park, resulting in the deaths of at least 10 individuals. Investigations into this incident, as well as similar stampedes in Anambra and Oyo states, are currently underway.
News of the arrests was initially disclosed by a Catholic priest on Wednesday and later confirmed by the FCT Police Command through Drivetvnews.
Archbishop Criticizes the Arrests
In his Christmas message titled “Christmas: A Season of Hope and Renewal,” the Catholic Archbishop of Abuja Diocese, Ignatius Kaigama, condemned the arrests, describing them as insensitive and unhelpful.
“This action is disheartening, counterproductive, and reflects misplaced priorities. It is unclear what purpose these arrests are meant to achieve,” Archbishop Kaigama said.
He urged the authorities to provide support to the church and the event organizers, helping them recover from the trauma rather than pursuing legal action.
Police Justification
FCT Police Command spokesperson Josephine Adeh confirmed the arrests, citing negligence on the part of the organizers as the reason for police intervention.
“How can you host such a large event without notifying the police? Ten people, including children, lost their lives, and many others were injured. Such negligence warrants investigation and accountability,” she stated.
When asked whether the parish priest was among those detained, Adeh said, “I cannot confirm the arrest of the priest unless he was directly involved in the event’s organization.”
Presidential Reaction
President Bola Tinubu also criticized the organizers of the events in Abuja, Oyo, and Anambra, attributing the tragic outcomes to poor planning. Speaking during a media briefing on Monday, the president called the incidents a result of serious lapses by the event coordinators.
“This was a grave error in planning by the organizers,” the president remarked. Over 60 lives were lost across the three incidents.
Witness Accounts
Witnesses at the Abuja stampede recounted that the chaos began around 4 a.m., hours before the distribution was scheduled to start, as the crowd surged at one of the church gates.
A survivor, who spoke anonymously, blamed the incident on some attendees refusing to queue properly. A church security officer noted that over 3,000 individuals, mostly from nearby areas such as Mpape and Gishiri, had gathered for the event.
In addition to the fatalities, several people were injured. However, on Monday, the Acting Director of the FCT Emergency Management Department (FEMD), Abdulrahman Mohammed, confirmed that all injured persons had been discharged from the hospital.
Safety Measures Introduced
Following the tragic events, the police have announced new safety protocols for organizing large gatherings to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
