Stampede scene
By Publisher
Kindly share:
Barely few days after over 30 children died in a stampede at a Christmas funfair in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, 20 residents have reportedly died in another tragic incident in Okija, Anambra State on Saturday.
Charles Aburime, Spokesperson of Governor Chukwuma Soludo, confirmed the incident.
Videos of the tragedy trending online showed dead bodies strewn in the ground.
In another development, no fewer than 10 persons have have lost their lives in another incident during the distribution of food items to the the needy in Abuja.
The tragedy also several people were reported injured in the stampede on Saturday morning at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama, Abuja.
SP Josephine Adeh, the spokesperson of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Police Command, said 10 persons, including four children, died in the stampede while eight others suffered varying degrees of injuries.
According to her, four of the injured have been treated and discharged but the others are still receiving medical care.
However, the FCT Police Rapid Response Squad and the FCT Joint Task Force have successfully evacuated the remaining crowd, numbering over a thousand.
“The FCT Police Command extends its heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased and wishes a swift recovery to the injured. In a show of compassion and support,” Adeh said in the statement.
Consequently, the command has directed all organisations, religious bodies, groups, or individuals planning public events, charitable activities, or large gatherings in the FCT, to notify the police command in advance to prevent recurrence.“This notification is crucial for the deployment of adequate security measures to ensure public safety and prevent avoidable tragedies,” the statement further said.
“Failure to comply with this directive will result in the organizers being held liable for any incidents or loss of life resulting from negligence.”
Recall that a similar tragedy in Ibadan earlier in the week had claimed 35 lives, leaving six others critically injured.
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu has cancelled all his official events in Lagos slated for Saturday, including his attendance at the 2024 Lagos Boat Regatta, to mourn those that lost their lives un the stampede in Abuja and Okija, Anambra State.
