Tragic stampedes at Nigerian Christmas charity events claim 32 lives

The death toll from stampedes at two separate Christmas charity events in Nigeria has risen to 32, with victims including at least four children, according to police reports on Sunday.

The tragedies occurred as large crowds gathered to receive food and clothing donations amid Nigeria’s ongoing cost-of-living crisis, one of the worst in decades.

 

In Okija town, located in southeastern Anambra state, 22 people lost their lives during a food distribution event organized by a philanthropist, police confirmed. Another 10 fatalities were reported in the capital, Abuja, where a church-organized charity event ended in chaos.

 

Eyewitnesses described the scenes of panic. “When the gate was opened, everyone rushed in. Some people fell, and others trampled on them until they died,” said one observer at the Abuja event.

Tunji Disu, head of the Intelligence Response Team in Abuja, explained the challenges faced by first responders: “We discovered that many people were trampled. It required significant effort to move them quickly to the hospital.”

 

These incidents follow another recent tragedy in Ibadan, where dozens of children died in a crush during a holiday funfair.

The growing economic hardship in Africa’s most populous country has led to a rise in charity events organized by churches, local organizations, and individuals to provide relief during the festive season. However, these gatherings have raised serious safety concerns.

 

Authorities are now facing mounting pressure to enforce stricter safety measures at such events. Nigerian police have also issued a directive requiring organizers to secure proper permissions before hosting charity distributions.

The incidents underscore the urgent need for better crowd management to prevent further tragedies during the holiday season.