Tragedy struck again in Okija, Anambra State on Saturday when 17 people died in a stampede during a rice distribution event organised by a Catholic Church.
Likewise, another 10 people were killed in a stampede in Abuja while struggling to receive food palliatives.
It is recalled that on Wednesday December 18, 40 children were trampled to death in a stampede in Ibadan at the distribution of food palliatives organized by a foundation.
At the latest incident in Abuja, witnesses described the scenes as chaotic and tragic at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama, the venue of the distribution, with seven out of the 10 victims children.
Over 3,000 people reportedly arrived from nearby communities and villages at the church premises as early as 4am to receive the palliatives.
As soon as the distribution began at 7am, the crowd surged forward resulting in a stampede till 8 am.
Police, DSS and soldiers were called to the venue to restore order and disperse the crowd.
In the Anambra incident which occurred at Ihiala Local Government Area,apart from the 17 people who died, several others were reportedly injured. The stampede occurred during the distribution of Christmas rice by officials of the Obijackson Foundation.
The event was not the first to be organised by the foundation as it has done annually becoming an occasion the people in the local government always looked forward to.
Victims in the Anambra Incident were mostly women with some pregnant and youths who had arrived at the venue as early as 5 a.waiting for the distribution to begin at dawn.
However, the crowd grew larger and became uncontrollable when the distribution began thereby causing the stampede.
The dead bodies, and those who sustained injuries, were rushed to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Ihiala.
In a viral video, dead bodies, including pregnant women, littered the vicinity of the hospital’s mortuary.
Efforts were made by those in attendance to revive those who fell unconscious
