The death toll from stampedes at two separate Christmas charity events in Nigeria has risen to 32, according to police reports on Sunday. The victims include at least four children.
As the country faces its most severe cost-of-living crisis in a generation, large crowds gathered to receive food and clothing at the charity events.
The fatalities include 22 people in Okija, a town in southeastern Anambra state, where a philanthropist had organised a food distribution, local police confirmed.
Ten others lost their lives in the capital, Abuja, during a similar event organised by a church.
“They opened the gate this morning, and everyone rushed in. Some people fell, and others started trampling over them. They were trampled to death,” said one eyewitness.
“We discovered that many people were trampled on. It took considerable effort to get them to the hospital,” said Tunji Disu, head of the Intelligence Response Team in Abuja.
Police have launched investigations into both incidents, which occurred just days after dozens of children were killed in a crush at a holiday funfair in Ibadan. The organisers had promised to distribute cash handouts and food.
In Africa’s most populous country, there is a growing trend of local organisations, churches, and individuals organising charity events ahead of Christmas to help alleviate economic hardship.
The stampedes have sparked increasing calls for the authorities to implement safety measures at such events. The Nigerian police have also mandated that organisers obtain permission before holding such events.
