13 People Including Children Die in Stampedes In Nigeria At
ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) - At least 13 people, consisting of four children, were killed in two separate stampedes in Nigeria as large crowds collected to collect food and clothing products dispersed at yearly Christmas occasions, the authorities stated Saturday.
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The two accidents came days after another such stampede in Africa ´ s most populous country, amid a growing trend by local organizations, churches and individuals to organize fundraiser ahead of Christmas, as the country battles with the worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation.
Ten people were killed in the very first stampede in the early hours at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama, an upmarket part of the capital, Abuja, cops representative Josephine Adeh stated in a statement, including that more than 1,000 individuals have been left from the church.
There was a crowd surge at one of the church gates, as lots attempted to enter the properties at around 4 a.m., hours before the gift items were to be shared, witnesses said, that some had actually been waiting considering that the previous night.
"The way they were hurrying to go into, some people were falling and a few of them were old," Loveth Inyang, a witness. Inyang stated he handled to save one child as his mom had a hard time in the rise.
Three individuals passed away in a similar crush later on in the southeastern Anambra state's Okija town at a charity drive organized by a philanthropist, the state police stated.
"The occasion had not even begun when the rush began," police spokesperson Tochukwu Ikenga said. There could be more deaths recorded as officers examine the event, he said.
Viral footage that appeared to be from the Abuja scene revealed lifeless bodies resting on the ground as people screamed for help. A few of the hurt have actually been treated and discharged while others continue to get treatment, cops stated.
The church canceled the charity occasion with bags of rice and clothes products still set up within the premises.
As the church held a wedding after the crowd was left, the pain and unhappiness remained palpable even as friends and families collected for wedding photos.
Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu revealed his sympathy with the victims' households and asked states and relevant authorities to implement stringent crowd control procedures.
The recent stampedes in Nigeria have raised questions about safety procedures in such events. Several children were killed on Wednesday today when a regional foundation organized a well-attended funfair to distribute present items and food to kids in southwestern Oyo state.
After the most recent catastrophe, the authorities in Abuja revealed that previous permission should be acquired before such charity drive are organized.
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The existing economic difficulty under Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who assured "restored hope" when he was sworn into office in May 2023, is blamed on rising inflation that is at a 28-year high and the federal government ´ s economic policies that have actually pushed the regional currency to record low versus the dollar.
Frustration over the cost-of-living crisis has actually caused mass demonstrations in recent months. In August, a minimum of 20 individuals were shot dead and hundreds of others were arrested at protests demanding better opportunities and jobs for youths.
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