AT least 57 lives have been lost during the sharing of food and palliative items in three separate incidents that occurred in three states of the federation.

The incidents happened during the sharing of food items, a regular feature at Christmas and New Year festivities. The philanthropic gestures turned awry when the crowd that had gathered became uncontrollable and the ensuing stampedes claimed the lives of people, including minors and the elderly at the separate venues.

On Saturday, about ten people were feared stampeded to death, while eight others were injured during distribution of food items to vulnerable and elderly persons in the nation?s capital, Abuja.

This is just as 12 people were confirmed dead in Okija town, Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State the same day as they were scrambling for Christmas rice.

Sunday Tribune reports that the twin incidents came on the heels of the stampede that happened on Wednesday when thousands of people turned up for a Christmas funfair party where free food items were promised to be shared in Ibadan, Oyo State. In the stampede that occurred before the commencement of the event, 35 people, mostly minors, were crushed to death.

At the Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Maitama, where the Saturday incident happened in Abuja, the FCT Police Command disclosed that the distribution of food at the vent focused on the vulnerable and elderly people.

In a statement issued to newsmen by the command?s spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, the FCT Commissioner of Police, Tunji Disu, was quoted as saying: ?This tragic event, which happened at about 6:30 am, led to a stampede that claimed the lives of ten individuals, including four children, and left eight others with varying degrees of injuries.

?Four of the injured have been treated and discharged, while the remaining victims are receiving medical care.?

To prevent a recurrence of the unfortunate incidents, the command directed that any organisations or individuals planning any large public gathering must notify it in advance, adding that ?this will allow the deployment of adequate security measures to ensure public safety and prevent avoidable tragedies.?

In Okija town, it was gathered that event, where about 32 other people were said to have sustained varying degrees of injuries, was organised by a philanthropist, Chief Earnest Obiejesi, also known as Obi Jackson.

It was gathered that the event was an annual tradition for him during most festive seasons as it is part of his foundation?s (Obijackson Foundation) effort to assist his kinsmen.

According to eyewitnesses, the distribution drive, which usually culminates in a large carnival, turned awry when the surging crowd became uncontrollable, leading to a stampede that claimed lives.

A resident of the town, who identified himself as Uchenna, said: ?It is not our brother Obi Jackson who caused their deaths, but the people that refused to comport themselves. The bags of rice I saw could take care of everyone and more, but due to the hunger in the land, most people feared that the rice might not reach them. This led to the tragic incident, and it is very unfortunate.?

Another resident, Mrs Maria Okonkwo, who was heading to the venue, said: ?The number of people was overwhelming, and more people were still arriving to take part in the rice distribution when people started shouting.

?The organisers were busy trying to control the crowd, but there was little they could do as the crowd overpowered them. Some people chose to carry as many bags as possible, and when others fell, they were trampled by the surging crowd, leading to the deaths of several individuals.

?I cannot say exactly how many people died, but it could be around ten or 13. However, those who were injured are more than 30, and about six people fainted.?

A sister of one of the deceased, Mrs Rose Okoli, revealed that her sister died while struggling to feed them.

?She is yet to marry. We hope the philanthropist would assist us to give her a befitting burial. May her soul rest in perfect peace, amen,? she said.

One of the survivors, Ms Agnes Emelu, thanked God for saving her life, noting that the incident wouldn?t have happened if the distribution was properly coordinated by the assigned organisers.

?We need help at the moment. Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo should urgently intervene in this matter. We need help,? Emelu said.

Another survivor, Mrs Oge Samuel, who was revived by local first aid, appealed to the government to urgently address the economic challenges.

Sunday Tribune also gathered that at about 4:09 pm, normalcy had been restored at the scene and distribution of the rice resumed.

Reacting to the tragedy, the Anambra Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochikwu Ikenga, in a statement issued on Saturday confirmed that police operatives had taken over the scene in Okija.

According to him, before the event could start, a large and uncontrolled crowd took over the event area, resulting in the stampede.

Ikenga also said that the details of the affected persons were still sketchy, adding that further details would be communicated.

Reacting to the incident, Obijackson Foundation, the organiser of the event bemoaned the tragedy and commiserated with the bereaved families and the people of the state.

A top member of the foundation, who craved anonymity, said foundation expressed deep sorrow over the tragic because it broke the organisers? heart.

?This tragedy breaks our hearts. The annual rice-sharing event is a labour of love aimed at bringing joy and relief to those in need. That it resulted in such sorrow is devastating beyond words,? he said.

The foundation pledged to investigate the circumstances surrounding the tragedy thoroughly and to implement enhanced safety measures for future events.

?We humbly seek the understanding of our community as we reflect on this painful moment. This setback will not deter us from our mission to serve the vulnerable and uplift those in need. We will learn from this experience and strive to do better,? he said.

The foundation also commended the swift response of security personnel and rescue workers, whose efforts helped to mitigate the impact of the incident.

It also reiterated its commitment to supporting those affected and continuing its charitable endeavours in more controlled and secure ways.

IG warns against unorganised funfairs, palliatives distributions

In its reaction to the incidents, the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has called on groups and organisers of similar events to ensure the involvement of security agencies as negligence on their part is criminal and would not be overlooked, as provided for in Sec. 196 of the Penal Code and Sec. 344 of the Criminal Code, Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The IGP, according to a statement by Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, encouraged members of the public who participate in such distributions to tread with caution and prioritise their safety, to avoid unforeseen calamities.

?The IGP has ordered the commissioners of the affected states to carry out thorough investigations into these ugly incidences for further legal actions,? the statement read.

Tinubu cancels Lagos events over stampede deaths

While commiserating with the victims of the incidents, President Bola Tinubu cancelled all his official events in Lagos for Saturday, including his attendance at the 2024 Lagos Boat Regatta in honour of the stampede victims in Abuja and Okija, Anambra State.

A statement by Special Adviser to the President (Information & Strategy), by Bayo Onanuga, noted that the two tragedies claimed many lives and left many others injured.

Commiserating with the victims of the unfortunate incidents in Anambra and the Federal Capital Territory, President Tinubu urged states and relevant authorities to enforce strict crowd control measures immediately.

He noted that the disturbing events bore a distressing resemblance to the recent incident in Ibadan, Oyo State.

He said local and state authorities should no longer tolerate operational lapses by organisations and corporate bodies involved in charitable and humanitarian activities.

While praying for the peaceful repose of innocent Nigerians who died in the stampede, President Tinubu wished a quick recovery to the injured.

He reiterated that these mishaps are avoidable if event planners adhere to necessary safeguards and protocols to ensure pre- and post-event safety.

NEMA warns against ineffective crowd management

The Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mrs. Zubaida Umar, on Saturday, also called for proper crowd management during distribution of charity to prevent stampedes and avoidable loss of lives.

She expressed grave concern that such tragic outcomes undermine the goodwill behind charity events.

The NEMA helmsman disclosed that all zonal territorial and operations offices of the agency have been activated to respond to emergencies and provide support to first responders.

Obi, Sanwo-Olu, others mourn

Well-meaning Nigerians have continued to sympathise with the victims of the three incidents and their families.

Leading the pack, former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, blamed recent cases of deaths resulting from stampedes and scrambling for food on what he calls ?systemic failures? plaguing the country.

Obi, who took to his X handle to share in the grief of the affected families, noted that harsh economic conditions had forced Nigerians to scramble for food supplies at the slightest opportunity, leading to needless loss of lives in the process.

?The desperate quest for survival in these harsh economic times has driven our people to extremes in their search for food, often at the cost of their lives.

?How do we explain that in a nation blessed with abundant resources, our people are dying of hunger in such numbers? How is it possible that we cannot feed our citizens despite the vast, fertile lands our nation is endowed with? My heart bleeds.

?One can only imagine the pain their families are enduring at this moment. My heart goes out to them,? Obi said in the statement.

In the same vein, Lagos State governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has sympathised with his Oyo State counterpart, Seyi Makinde, and the people of Oyo State over the tragic stampede that occurred during a children?s carnival which claimed 35 lives.

Governor Sanwo-Olu, in a letter he personally signed and addressed to Governor Makinde titled: ?Letter of Condolence ? Christmas Stampede Tragedy,? also extended his condolences to the families who lost their loved ones during the sad incident.

The governor described the incident as devastating and offered prayers for the families affected by the tragedy, saying that the heartbreaking incident had cast a shadow of grief and mourning not only over Oyo State but across Nigeria.

?The circumstances surrounding this tragedy?children gathering with the hope of joy, relief, and celebration?make the loss all the more devastating. The scale of this loss, compounded by the innocence and vulnerability of those affected, is deeply painful. I cannot begin to imagine the depth of pain felt by the families of the victims and by the wider Oyo State community,? he said.

The governor, therefore, prayed that God should grant the families of the departed the strength to bear this irreparable loss and provide solace to Governor Makinde?s administration as it worked to bring healing to the people of Oyo State.

In his separate condolence, the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, commiserated with families and victims of the recent Ibadan Christmas funfair celebration at Basorun High School.

Adelabu, who expressed profound sadness over the incident, in a statement by his Special Adviser, Strategic Communication and Media Relations, Bolaji Tunji, and made available to Sunday Tribune, described them as heart-wrenching.

The minister described the incident as a sad and unfortunate moment at the onset of the festive period, considering the number of children who lost their lives at the funfair.

Similarly, Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, mourned the victims of the stampede at a funfair event organised for children in the Basorun area of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, expressing great sadness over the incident.

Iba Adams, in a statement by his Special Assistant (SA) on Media, Mr Kehinde Aderemi, said he was deeply saddened to hear the story of how these innocent children, who left their homes with the excitement of enjoying a holiday funfair in Ibadan, were trampled to death, praying that God should comfort the families of the victims.

?I am deeply saddened to hear the story of how these innocent children, who left their homes with the excitement of enjoying a holiday funfair in Ibadan were trampled to death,? Iba Adams said. (Sunday Tribune)

Update news