- Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama described the December 21 stampede at Holy Trinity Parish, which resulted in 10 deaths and multiple injuries
- He emphasized the need for improved safety measures during food distributions, acknowledging the economic hardships that led to large crowds
The Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Most Rev. Ignatius Kaigama, has described the events that led to the tragic December 21, 2024, food distribution stampede at Holy Trinity Parish, Maitama, Abuja. The incident claimed 10 lives and left 11 others injured.
During a Sunday holy mass held in memory of the victims, Archbishop Kaigama honoured Fr. Moses Jimbili, President of St. Vincent de Paul Maitama, Ms Juliet Onwuemelia, and society members for their dedication to assisting the poor, naming them 2024 heroes and heroines.
Reports revealed that three days before the Abuja incident, a similar tragedy occurred on December 18 in Ibadan, Oyo State.
A crowd crush during a Christmas funfair at Bashorun District’s Islamic High School left at least 35 children dead and many injured. On the same day as the Abuja event, another stampede in Okija, Ihiala LGA of Anambra State, resulted in 21 fatalities and numerous injuries during rice and palliative distributions.
Archbishop Kaigama emphasized that the Abuja incident was not due to negligence, as previous years had seen seamless distributions across Catholic parishes in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
“The distribution at Holy Trinity Maitama in 2024 witnessed an unprecedented turnout of about 5,000 needy individuals due to the economic hardships facing many families,” Kaigama explained.
“The large crowd outside the church created pressure and panic, leading to a struggle at the church gate that caused fatalities and injuries.”
In response, the church immediately suspended distribution activities to prevent further chaos. Deceased victims were transported to the mortuary, and medical care was provided for the injured.
“The Parish Priest, President of St. Vincent de Paul Maitama, and the Chief Security Officer were briefly taken by police for questioning but released hours later,” Kaigama noted.
The church also issued a letter of condolence to affected families and visited them to offer spiritual and moral support.
Archbishop Kaigama reaffirmed the church’s dedication to serving the poor and emphasized the importance of preventing similar tragedies.
“Poverty robs people of their dignity. Our actions and political decisions must prioritize the well-being of the poor. May 2025 bring Nigeria closer to peace and prosperity,” he concluded.
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