The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has condemned the recent spate of deadly stampedes during food distribution events, which have claimed at least 67 lives over the span of four days.
In a statement released on Sunday, CAN President, Daniel Okoh, described these incidents as part of a “troubling pattern” that has deeply affected the nation.
The latest tragedy occurred on Saturday morning at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama, Abuja, where a stampede resulted in the deaths of at least 10 people, including children, who had gathered to receive aid. CAN expressed heartfelt condolences to the victims’ families, calling the loss “not just statistics,” but a painful reality for the families involved. “Each person lost was someone’s beloved family member,” the statement read. “We wish to express our heartfelt condolences to the Catholic Church and to the families affected by this terrible incident. We stand together with you in this time of sadness and prayer.”
This stampede is the third such tragedy in December. On December 18, a stampede at a Christmas funfair held at a school in Ibadan led to the deaths of 35 children, with six others critically injured. The event, aimed at distributing food and cash to over 5,000 children, has prompted investigations into better crowd management strategies to prevent such calamities in the future.
Shortly after, another stampede took place at a rice distribution event in Anambra State, claiming 22 lives and injuring 32 others. The religious body acknowledged that these events underscore the challenges involved in managing large crowds during charitable distributions, urging more effective planning and crowd control measures at future events.
In response to the mounting tragedies, CAN stressed the need for national solidarity, especially in times of grief. “It is crucial that we listen to one another, share our feelings, and offer help in any way we can. This is a time for compassion and understanding as we help one another heal,” the statement concluded.
As the country grapples with these heartbreaking events, the focus is now on ensuring that such incidents are prevented in the future, with authorities and organizations urged to take proactive measures to safeguard lives during large-scale public gatherings.
