Tragic stampede at Abuja charity event highlights Nigeria's economic plight
In Abuja, the capital of Nigeria, 10 people, including children, died during a holiday charity event at a church. The crowd trampled participants while food was being distributed.
A tragic incident occurred in Nigeria's capital during a holiday charity event at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Abuja. Panic among the crowd gathered for free food led to the death of 10 people, including four children - reports AP. Police spokeswoman Josephine Adeh announced this in a statement on Saturday.
The incident happened early in the morning, when a crowd of people tried to get into the church to receive assistance. More than 1,000 people were evacuated due to the chaos. Videos from the scene of the tragedy, showing lifeless bodies and people calling for help, have appeared online.
This is the second such case in Nigeria within a week, according to ABC. Several children reportedly also died in a previous incident. In the country, where the cost of living has risen sharply, numerous charity events are organized before Christmas. The Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria has appealed to all parishes in the country to implement appropriate crowd control measures to prevent further incidents.
Since May 2023, when President Bola Tinubu took office, inflation in Nigeria reached a record high of 28%. The naira, the local currency, fell to its lowest level ever against the dollar, explains AP. The economic situation triggered mass protests during which at least 20 people died in August, and hundreds were arrested. Demonstrators demanded, among other things, greater employment opportunities for young people.
The authorities are relentless. They imprison teenagers aged 14-17 for treason when they protest against the dire economic situation. In Nigeria, treason carries the death penalty.
The tragedy in Abuja is another example of how the difficult economic situation affects the lives of Nigerians. The rising cost of living and lack of prospects for improvement lead to desperate actions, such as mass gatherings at charity events.
