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

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) - At least 13 individuals, including four children, were eliminated in 2 separate stampedes in Nigeria as big crowds gathered to gather food and clothing items distributed at yearly Christmas events, the cops said Saturday.

The 2 accidents came days after another such stampede in Africa ´ s most populated nation, amid a growing pattern by local companies, churches and people to arrange fundraiser ahead of Christmas, as the country fights with the worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation.

Ten individuals 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 representative Josephine Adeh said in a declaration, adding that more than 1,000 individuals have actually been evacuated from the church.

There was a crowd rise at one of the church gates, as dozens attempted to enter the facilities at around 4 a.m., hours before the gift items were to be shared, witnesses said, explaining that some had been waiting because the previous night.

"The way they were rushing to go into, some people were falling and a few of them were old," Loveth Inyang, a witness. Inyang said he handled to save one child as his mom struggled in the surge.

Three individuals passed away in a similar crush later in the southeastern Anambra state's at a charity drive organized by a benefactor, the state cops said.

"The occasion had not even started when the rush began," authorities spokesman Tochukwu Ikenga stated. There could be more deaths taped as officers investigate the occurrence, he stated.

Viral video footage that seemed from the Abuja scene revealed lifeless bodies pushing the ground as people yelled for assistance. A few of the injured have been dealt with and released while others continue to get healthcare, cops said.

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

As the church held a wedding after the crowd was evacuated, the pain and unhappiness remained palpable even as families and pals gathered for wedding event photos.

Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu revealed his sympathy with the victims' households and asked states and appropriate authorities to enforce strict crowd control procedures.

The current stampedes in Nigeria have actually raised concerns about security measures in such occasions. Several kids were eliminated on Wednesday today when a regional structure arranged a well-attended funfair to disperse gift items and food to kids in southwestern Oyo state.

After the current disaster, the police in Abuja announced that previous permission should be obtained before such charity drive are organized.

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

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