At least 32 people were killed in two separate crowd crushes during charity events in Nigeria on Saturday, according to police reports cited by CNN.
The first incident occurred in Okija, a town in Anambra State in southeastern Nigeria, where 22 people lost their lives. The tragedy unfolded at an event organized to distribute bags of rice to women in need. Radio Nigeria reported that hundreds of people had gathered at the community center, and a sudden surge in the crowd led to the fatal crush.
Christian Aburime, Chief Press Secretary to the Anambra State Governor, said the victims included “women, the elderly, pregnant (women), nursing mothers and children.” The event was hosted by the Obi Jackson Foundation, which aimed to distribute relief materials to less privileged community members during the festive season.
While acknowledging the “noble intention of sharing relief materials,” Aburime emphasized the need for “a more structured and safer approach to distributing such assistance.”
The second crowd crush occurred the same day in Maitama, a district in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, where 10 people, including four children, were killed during a food distribution event at a local church. According to police, over a thousand people gathered for the event, resulting in deadly overcrowding, as reported by CNN.
The Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Ignatius Ayau Kaigama, expressed deep sorrow, describing the incident as a “devastating blow to our community” and mourning the victims with “profound shock and sadness.”
In the wake of these tragedies, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu canceled his appearance at a boat regatta in Lagos. His special adviser, Bayo Onanuga, said the president “commiserated with the victims of the unfortunate incidents in Anambra and the Federal Capital Territory.”
President Tinubu called for the immediate enforcement of “strict crowd control measures” by states and relevant authorities. Expressing solidarity with the victims and their families, he remarked, “In a season of joy and celebration, we grieve with fellow citizens mourning the painful losses of their loved ones.”
These incidents occurred just days after another fatal crowd crush in Ibadan, southwest Nigeria, which claimed the lives of at least 35 children. The event, organized to provide prizes to children under 13, had anticipated 5,000 attendees but ended in tragedy, CNN reported.
The recent spate of crowd crushes has raised concerns about crowd control and safety protocols at large public gatherings across Nigeria.
Must Read: Donald Trump Debunks ‘Hoax’ About Handing Presidency To Elon Musk
