13 People Including Children Die in Stampedes In Nigeria At > 자유게시판

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) - At least 13 people, including 4 kids, were eliminated in 2 separate stampedes in Nigeria as large crowds gathered to collect food and clothing items dispersed at annual Christmas events, the cops said Saturday.

The 2 accidents came days after another such stampede in Africa ´ s most populous country, in the middle of a growing pattern by regional companies, churches and people to arrange fundraiser ahead of Christmas, as the nation struggles with the worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation.

Ten people were killed in the first stampede in the early hours at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama, an upmarket part of the capital, Abuja, authorities spokesperson Josephine Adeh said in a statement, including that more than 1,000 people have been left from the church.

There was a crowd surge at one of the church gates, as lots attempted to enter the facilities at around 4 a.m., hours before the gift products were to be shared, witnesses said, mentioning that some had been waiting since the previous night.

"The way they were hurrying to go into, some individuals were falling and a few of them were old," Loveth Inyang, a witness. Inyang stated he handled to save one baby as his mom had a hard time in the rise.

Three people passed away in a comparable crush later in the southeastern Anambra state's Okija town at a charity drive arranged by a philanthropist, the state authorities stated.

"The occasion had not even started when the rush began," police spokesman Tochukwu Ikenga stated. There might be more deaths recorded as officers investigate the incident, he stated.

Viral footage that appeared to be from the Abuja scene revealed lifeless bodies resting on the ground as individuals yelled for assistance. A few of the injured have actually been dealt with and discharged while others continue to receive treatment, authorities stated.

The church canceled the fundraiser with bags of rice and clothing items still set up within the premises.

As the church held a wedding after the crowd was left, the pain and sadness remained palpable even as households and friends gathered for wedding photos.

Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu expressed his sympathy with the victims' households and asked states and appropriate authorities to implement rigorous crowd control measures.

The recent stampedes in Nigeria have actually raised questions about security measures in such events. Several children were eliminated on Wednesday today when a organized a well-attended funfair to distribute gift products and food to kids in southwestern Oyo state.

After the current disaster, the police in Abuja announced that prior consent needs to be gotten before such fundraiser are arranged.

The present economic challenge under Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who guaranteed "restored hope" when he was sworn into office in May 2023, is blamed on surging inflation that is at a 28-year high and the federal government ´ s economic policies that have pushed the local currency to record low against the dollar.

Frustration over the cost-of-living crisis has caused mass demonstrations in current months. In August, a minimum of 20 individuals were shot dead and hundreds of others were jailed at protests demanding better chances and tasks for youths.