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

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) - A minimum of 13 people, consisting of four children, were eliminated in two different stampedes in Nigeria as big crowds gathered to collect food and clothes products distributed at annual Christmas events, the cops stated Saturday.

The 2 accidents came days after another such stampede in Africa ´ s most populous country, amidst a growing pattern by regional organizations, churches and individuals to organize charity drive ahead of Christmas, as the nation deals with the worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation.

Ten people were killed in the very 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 evacuated from the church.

There was a crowd rise at one of the church gates, as lots tried to go into the premises at around 4 a.m., hours before the present items were to be shared, witnesses stated, mentioning that some had actually been waiting because the previous night.

"The method they were rushing to get in, some people were falling and some of them were old," Loveth Inyang, a witness. Inyang stated he handled to save one child as his mother struggled in the surge.

Three individuals passed away in a comparable crush later in the southeastern Anambra state's Okija town at a fundraiser organized by a benefactor, the state police said.

"The occasion had not even begun when the rush began," cops spokesman Tochukwu Ikenga said. There might be more deaths taped as officers investigate the incident, he said.

Viral video footage that appeared to be from the Abuja scene showed resting on the ground as individuals yelled for aid. A few of the injured have actually been treated and discharged while others continue to receive treatment, authorities stated.

The church canceled the charity drive with bags of rice and clothes items still organized within the facilities.

As the church held a wedding after the crowd was evacuated, the pain and unhappiness stayed palpable even as friends and families gathered for wedding pictures.

Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu expressed his sympathy with the victims' households and asked states and relevant authorities to enforce strict crowd control steps.

The recent stampedes in Nigeria have actually raised questions about safety steps in such occasions. Several children were killed on Wednesday this week when a local structure arranged a well-attended funfair to distribute gift products and food to kids in southwestern Oyo state.

After the current catastrophe, the cops in Abuja revealed that prior consent must be obtained before such charity events are organized.

The current economic challenge under Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who promised "renewed hope" when he was sworn into workplace in May 2023, is blamed on surging inflation that is at a 28-year high and the government ´ s economic policies that have actually pressed the regional currency to record low against the dollar.

Frustration over the cost-of-living crisis has resulted in mass protests in recent months. In August, at least 20 people were shot dead and hundreds of others were jailed at demonstrations demanding much better chances and jobs for young people.