Nigerians Grieved After Stampede Accident at Church While Receiving Free Christmas Meals

Multiple Crush Incidents at Charity Event
Chronic Economic Slump and Hardship... Even Buying Food Is Difficult

In Nigeria, a series of stampede accidents have occurred ahead of Christmas. The incidents happened as crowds gathered at events distributing free groceries and other items.

On the 21st (local time), AP News reported, citing the Nigerian police, that an accident occurred at a Christmas event held at a cathedral in the capital city Abuja that morning, resulting in the deaths of 10 people, including 4 children.

Earlier, on the 19th, a stampede accident also took place at a high school event in southwestern Nigeria. According to local media such as the daily Vanguard, at least 35 people died and 6 were injured in the accident that occurred at an event held at an Islamic high school in Bashorun village, Oyo State, in the southwest.

Street scene in Nigeria. Photo is not directly related to the article content. Pixabay

The police explained that the accident happened as thousands of attendees rushed forward when the organizers began distributing gifts and food at the event. They added that the organizers held the event without proper safety measures and that eight people, including the school principal, have been detained for investigation.

Nigeria, with a population of 220 million, is the most populous country in Africa and the continent's largest oil producer. However, it has struggled to overcome chronic economic stagnation. In particular, since President Bola Tinubu took office in May last year, he introduced a currency policy unifying the official and market exchange rates to attract foreign investment and abolished fuel subsidies citing fiscal difficulties, which caused soaring prices and a sharp decline in currency value, making it difficult to afford basic food items.

AP reported that due to the worst economic hardship in a generation, many organizations and religious institutions in Nigeria are holding such charitable events, and similar casualties have occurred in the past.