At least 10 people, including children, lost their lives in a stampede at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama, Abuja, on Saturday morning. Several others sustained injuries during the chaotic distribution of palliatives meant to provide relief to struggling residents.
The tragic incident occurred as over 3,000 people, mainly from Mpape, Gishiri Village, and nearby settlements, gathered to receive aid from the church. The National Director of Social Communications at the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Padre Mike Nsikak Umoh, confirmed the incident, stating that the distribution has been suspended indefinitely.

An eyewitness described the scene as harrowing, revealing that at least seven of the deceased were children. Many beneficiaries reportedly arrived as early as 4:00 AM to secure their share, but the stampede erupted between 7:00 AM and 8:00 AM as the crowd surged forward.

“Ten people, including children, have died. It’s devastating,” said the eyewitness, a mother of five. “Most of those present were from Mpape and Gishiri Village. May God receive the souls of the departed.”

Security forces, including police, military, and DSS personnel, were deployed to restore order and disperse the crowd. The church premises, initially teeming with desperate residents, were eventually cleared under the supervision of law enforcement.

This incident follows a similar tragedy in Ibadan, Oyo State, earlier in the week. A stampede at a children’s funfair in Bashorun resulted in the deaths of at least 35 children, with six others critically injured. That event, held at the Islamic High School, also descended into chaos when attendees rushed to receive food and gifts.

The back-to-back tragedies have reignited discussions about crowd control and the need for better coordination during humanitarian events to prevent further loss of life.