A tragic stampede at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama on Saturday morning resulted in the d+ath of 10 individuals, including four children, and left several others injured. The incident occurred during the distribution of palliatives aimed at assisting vulnerable and elderly residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The FCT Police Command confirmed the fatalities in a statement by spokesperson SP Josephine Adeh, noting that eight additional individuals sustained inj¥ries. Four of the inj¥red have since received treatment and been discharged, while the others remain hospitalized.
Witnesses reported that the ch+os erupted as thousands of residents rushed to access food items, leading to the stampede and the tragic loss of lives.
The FCT Police extended their condolences to the families of the deceased and wished the injured a swift recovery. In their statement, they noted, “This tragic event, which occurred around 6:30 AM, resulted in the d+aths of ten individuals, including four children, and left eight others inj¥red. Four of the inj¥red have been treated and discharged, while the remaining victims are receiving medical care.”
To prevent similar incidents in the future, the police emphasized the need for all organizations, religious bodies, and individuals planning public events or charitable activities in the FCT to notify the Police Command in advance. This will facilitate the deployment of adequate security measures to ensure public safety and avoid avoidable tragedies.
“Failure to comply with this directive will hold the organizers liable for any incidents or loss of life resulting from their negligence,” Adeh added.
