A tragic stampede at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama, Abuja, on Saturday morning has left at least ten people dead and numerous others injured.

The incident occurred during the distribution of palliatives by the church, which had drawn a massive crowd from Mpape, Gishiri Village, and other nearby communities. Eyewitnesses reported that the stampede happened between 7 am and 8 am as the crowd surged forward in a chaotic bid to collect the relief items.

The distribution effort, intended to provide support to struggling residents, turned deadly as the uncontrolled crowd created panic and confusion.

This tragedy bears a resemblance to a recent incident in Ibadan, Oyo State, where a stampede at a children’s funfair claimed the lives of 35 children.

Attempts to reach Nkechi Isa, spokesperson for the Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Department, for further details have so far been unsuccessful.

Authorities are expected to investigate the cause of the stampede to prevent future occurrences and ensure safer measures during similar relief efforts.

The post Ten Dead, Scores Injured in Church Palliative Distribution Stampede appeared first on Housing TV Africa.

Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, has announced the suspension of his December 25th birthday celebrations in honour of the children who lost their lives during a tragic stampede in Ibadan on Wednesday.

Makinde made this announcement on Friday in Ibadan while receiving a delegation from the South-East chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), led by its Board of Trustees (BOT) Chairman, Sen. Adolphus Wabara.

The delegation visited to commiserate with the governor and the people of Oyo State over the tragic incident at the children’s carnival held at Islamic High School, Basorun, where 35 children reportedly lost their lives.

Describing the incident as painful, unfortunate, and preventable, Makinde expressed deep sorrow, stating he would remain indoors on his birthday as a mark of respect for the victims.

“I will not go out; no birthday celebration this year,” Makinde said.

He thanked the BOT chairman and other party leaders for being the first to pay him a condolence visit.

“On behalf of the government and the people of Oyo State, we appreciate you for coming,” Makinde said.

Sen. Wabara, speaking on behalf of the South-East PDP delegation, conveyed their sympathies to the governor and the state.

“We, the people of South-East, feel the pain of the sudden death of the 35 children. We pray God to grant you and the people of the state, particularly the parents of the victims, the fortitude to bear the loss,” Wabara said.

The tragic incident has cast a somber mood over the festive season in Oyo State, as families and communities mourn the loss of young lives.

The post Makinde Suspends Birthday Celebration in Honour of Stampede Victims appeared first on Housing TV Africa.

Many children reportedly lost their lives in a stampede at a children’s carnival in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

The incident occurred at the private children’s fun fair held at Basorun Islamic High School, resulting in fatalities and injuries in the early hours of today.

In a statement, the commissioner for information and orientation, Prince Dotun Oyelade, confirmed the incident and said that the government has swiftly mobilised a rapid response team.

Victims have been transported to various hospitals within Ibadan for medical attention.

Oyelade appreciated the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, for immediately activating all available response teams to assist at the scene.

He assured that the state government will support the victims through this difficult period.

The statement clarified that the state government was not involved in the planning of the event and that the Ministry of Health was not requested to provide any logistics for the private children’s end-of-the-year funfair.

It emphasised the importance of proper coordination when organizing events of such magnitude, especially those involving children and elders.

The commissioner indicated that they are currently awaiting a detailed report from the Commissioner of Police to clarify the total number of victims involved in this unfortunate incident.

The commissioner said Parents who are concerned about the whereabouts of their children are urged to check the following medical facilities in Ibadan where children affected were taken for proper medical attention with valid means of identification: Patnas Hospital, Basorun, Western Hospital, Basorun, Ringroad State Hospital, Molly Specialist Hospital and University College Hospital (UCH).

The statement further said that the Oyo State government extends its deepest sympathies to the families affected by this tragedy while also urging the public to remain calm and cooperative as relevant pieces of information are gathered and necessary support arranged for the victims.

The post Many feared dead at Ibadan children Carnival funfair stampede appeared first on Housing TV Africa.

The incident took place at the customs’ zonal office on Harvey Road, Yaba, Lagos, where a large crowd had gathered for the open sales on Friday.

The customs had initiated the sale of the seized rice to alleviate the economic hardship caused by the high prices of essential food items in the country. Despite the noble intention, the event turned chaotic when dozens of people swarmed the venue, eager to purchase the rice, which was priced at N10,000 per 25kg bag.

The sales began peacefully under the supervision of the Comptroller General of Customs (CGC), Wale Adeniyi. However, the situation took a tragic turn when a group of armed individuals wearing camouflage gear attempted to force their way into the venue. In the ensuing chaos, a pregnant woman and six others lost their lives in the stampede.

READ ALSO: CBN Raises Customs Duty Exchange Rate To N1, 493.23/$ Despite Previous Slash

Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic and chaos as people struggled to gain entry to the premises. Despite efforts by the customs officials to control the crowd, the situation quickly spiraled out of control.

According to Comfort James, a witness at the scene, the crowd was uncontrollable, and despite the presence of the police, the distribution process was not effectively managed. She recounted how people trampled over each other in their desperation to secure a bag of rice.

Customs’ spokesman, Abdullahi Maiwada, confirmed the incident, stating that while some individuals fainted during the stampede and were rushed to the hospital, he could not confirm any fatalities.

READ ALSO: Surge in Cement Prices Sparks Property Abandonment in Real Estate Market

However, medical professionals later reported that one of the victims, who was brought to a hospital, succumbed to their injuries. Among the casualties was also identified as Mrs. Adebanjo Comfort Funmilayo, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State.

The tragic incident highlights the challenges faced by Nigerians amid rising food prices and underscores the need for better crowd control measures during such events to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

The post Fatal Stampede at Customs Rice Sale Claims Seven Lives in Lagos appeared first on Housing TV Africa.