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

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) - At least 13 people, consisting of four children, were eliminated in two different stampedes in Nigeria as big crowds collected to collect food and clothing products dispersed at annual Christmas events, the cops said Saturday.

The 2 mishaps came days after another such stampede in Africa ´ s most populous nation, in the middle of a growing trend by regional organizations, churches and people to arrange charity occasions ahead of Christmas, as the country battles with the worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation.

Ten people were eliminated 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 spokesman Josephine Adeh said 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 get in the premises at around 4 a.m., hours before the gift products were to be shared, witnesses said, explaining that some had been waiting given that the previous night.

"The way they were hurrying to enter, some people were falling and a few of them were old," Loveth Inyang, a witness. Inyang said he handled to rescue one infant as his in the surge.

Three people passed away in a similar crush later in the southeastern Anambra state's Okija town at a charity event arranged by a benefactor, the state police stated.

"The event had not even begun when the rush started," authorities spokesman Tochukwu Ikenga said. There might be more deaths tape-recorded as officers investigate the event, he said.

Viral footage that appeared to be from the Abuja scene showed lifeless bodies pushing the ground as individuals yelled for assistance. A few of the hurt have actually been treated and discharged while others continue to get treatment, police said.

The church canceled the charity event with bags of rice and clothing items still organized within the premises.

As the church held a marital relationship ceremony after the crowd was evacuated, the misery and unhappiness remained palpable even as households and buddies collected for wedding pictures.

Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu revealed his compassion with the victims' households and asked states and relevant authorities to impose stringent crowd control measures.

The current stampedes in Nigeria have raised concerns about safety measures in such occasions. Several kids were killed on Wednesday this week when a regional foundation organized a well-attended funfair to distribute present products and food to kids in southwestern Oyo state.

After the most recent catastrophe, the authorities in Abuja revealed that previous approval must be acquired before such charity occasions are arranged.

The present economic difficulty under Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who guaranteed "renewed 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 versus the dollar.

Frustration over the cost-of-living crisis has led to mass protests in current months. In August, at least 20 people were shot dead and hundreds of others were arrested at demonstrations requiring better opportunities and jobs for young people.