Abuja, Dec 22 (NationPress) In a devastating incident, at least 22 individuals lost their lives in a stampede that occurred during a charitable program focused on distributing food supplies and vegetable oil to the community in Okija, a town situated in Nigeria's southeastern Anambra state, as reported by the police on Sunday.
Tochukwu Ikenga, the police spokesperson in Anambra, stated in an announcement that "there are injured victims receiving medical attention at local hospitals," although he did not specify the exact number of injuries following the tragic event that took place on Saturday morning. An investigation is currently underway.
In light of this, Nigeria's national police chief, Kayode Egbetokun, has issued a strong admonition against the disorganized "distribution of palliatives and celebrations," which have increasingly resulted in stampedes and deaths among vulnerable groups in the nation.
Egbetokun remarked in a statement on Saturday that this warning was prompted by the rising occurrences of stampedes leading to injuries and fatalities, particularly during the distribution of aid ahead of the Christmas festivities, labeling them as 'uncoordinated.'
In a different stampede incident, at least 10 people, including four children, lost their lives, while eight others were injured during a distribution of relief items at a local church in the Maitama district of Abuja, the capital of Nigeria, on Saturday.
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has urged state and local authorities to enforce rigorous crowd management strategies nationwide following these fatal incidents, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
"Local and state authorities should no longer overlook operational shortcomings by organizations and corporate entities engaged in charitable and humanitarian efforts," Tinubu stated.
Padre Mike Nsikak Umoh, the spokesperson for the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, shared with reporters that the event drew over 3,000 attendees from surrounding villages and low-income neighborhoods. Following the 'tragic incident,' the 'palliative distribution' was halted, he mentioned.
Witnesses reported that many participants arrived as early as 4 a.m. local time, even though the event was set to commence between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m. on Saturday.
Earlier in the week, at least 35 individuals were killed and six others critically injured during a stampede at a children's carnival in the southwestern city of Ibadan.
