Group blames worsening hunger

Tinubu cancels Lagos outings

IGP orders investigation

Three days after no fewer than 36 persons died in a stampede in Ibadan, Oyo State, many, including children, have died in similar incidents in Abuja and Anambra State while struggling for Christmas palliatives.

The twin incidents, which happened, yesterday, left the nation shocked given that they came on the heels of the Oyo incident.

More than 10 people lost their lives and several others were injured during the distribution of food items by Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Maitama, Abuja.

Sunday Vanguard learned the incident occurred as thousands of residents scrambled to receive palliatives distributed by the church.

A non-governmental organization (NGO), Civil Society Legislation Advocacy Center (CISLAC), blamed the deaths on worsening hunger in the country.

The event, organised to provide relief to struggling residents, attracted over 3,000 people, mostly from Mpape, Gishiri and other nearby settlements.

National Director of Social Communications at the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Rev Fr Mike Umoh, confirmed the tragic development.

He said the exercise had been suspended following the event.

“Yes it’s true but with sketchy details,” the priest said.

An eyewitness described the scene as chaotic and tragic, saying that at least seven of the deceased were children.

Palliatives

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.

However, a combined team of police, military and Department of State Services,DSS, officers were deployed to restore order and disperse the crowd.

The church premises, initially filled with anxious beneficiaries, gradually cleared as security personnel enforced the suspension.

Similarly, the Anambra stampede, which happened in Okija, Ihiala Local Government Area, saw many people losing their lives while struggling for Christmas rice.

Sunday Vanguard gathered the incident happened when an indigene of the community popularly known as Obijason was distributing his annual Christmas rice.

Bodies

One of the witnesses who recorded the video, who spoke in Igbo language, showed dead bodies of some victims at Our Lady’s Hospital, Okija.

In the viral video, the male voice said: “This thing happened in Okija now. People who went to share Obijason rice, look at people who died. We are in Our Lady’s now.

“They went to share Obijason rice and they were stampeded to death. See all of them, including women. These are people stampeded to death. See people’s dead bodies. They are all dead. They went to share Obijason rice.

“There are a lot of dead bodies. They are still bringing in dead bodies. This happened this morning. Even pregnant women were among them. It is happening now, 21 December. Abomination has happened.

“More dead bodies are still coming. This is Okija. We are in Our Lady’s. These are not those who are unconscious. They are still bringing more. They said what is here is more than 100 dead bodies. Tragedy happened.”

According to another eyewitness, the victims, mostly women and youths, had stationed themselves at the facility as early as 5 a.m. on Saturday, waiting for the distribution to begin at dawn.

Uncontrollable

He said the crowd became uncontrollable when the distribution began, leading to the stampede.
The dead bodies, and those who sustained injuries, were taken to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Ihiala.
In a viral video, dead bodies, including pregnant women, littered the vicinity of the hospital’s mortuary.

Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu has cancelled all his official events in Lagos in honour of the victims.

A statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said one of Tinubu’s outings included the 2024 Lagos Boat Regatta.

According to the statement, dignitaries, including top officials of Lagos State government and white cap chiefs were already seated when the President cancelled his appearance following briefings on the tragedies.

The President commiserated with victims of the incidents and urged states and relevant authorities to immediately enforce strict crowd control measures.

Tinubu noted that it was very disturbing, saying the events bore a “distressing” resemblance to the recent incident in Ibadan, Oyo State.

“In a season of joy and celebration, we grieve with fellow citizens mourning the painful losses of their loved ones. Our prayers of divine comfort and healing are with them,” Tinubu was quoted as saying.

He reiterated that these mishaps are avoidable if event planners adhere to necessary safeguards and protocols to ensure pre and post-event safety.

Tragedies

Also sympathising with the victims, the presidential candidate of Labour Party, LP, in 2023, Mr. Peter Obi, said the tragedies reflected the systemic failures in Nigeria.

He said:”This morning, reports emerged of at least 10 people losing their lives in Abuja while scrambling for palliatives, with many others injured.

“Now, I just heard that about 19 more lives were lost in another stampede in Okija, Anambra State, as people struggled to receive food items.

“While I will not cast blame, but instead appreciate the organizers of these respective events for their kind gestures in providing palliatives and support to society, especially the poor, these tragedies reflect the systemic failures that plague our society.

“The desperate quest for survival in these harsh economic times has driven our people to extremes in their search for food, often at the cost of their lives.’’

In a related development, Lagos State governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, sympathized with his Oyo State counterpart, Seyi Makinde, and the people of the state over the stampede that occurred during a children’s carnival at Islamic High School, Bashorun, Ibadan, which claimed 35 lives.

Governor Sanwo-Olu, in a letter, titled: “Letter of Condolence – Christmas Stampede Tragedy,” also extended his condolences to the families of the dead.

He described the incident as devastating, saying the event had cast a shadow of grief not only over Oyo State but across Nigeria.

IGP

Also, Inspector-General of Police, IGP, Kayode Egbetokun, has ordered an investigation into the incidents in Oyo, Anambra and Abuja.

In a statement, the IGP ordered commissioners of police in affected states to “carry out thorough investigations into these ugly incidents for further legal actions”.

”The IGP has hereby warned groups and organizers of similar events to ensure the involvement of security agencies as negligence on their part is criminal and would not be overlooked, as provided for in Sec. 196 of the Penal Code and Sec. 344 of the Criminal Code, Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,’’ the statement stated.

Also reacting to the incidents, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, CISLAC, blamed worsening hunger for the deaths in different parts of the nation.

Execuitive Director of CISLAC, Comrade Auwal Rafsanjani, said this in a statement made available to Sunday Vanguard.

He said: Unfortunately, government appears detached from the realities on the ground and has failed to take necessary steps to address the situation.’