Tragedy struck at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Abuja on Saturday morning as a stampede during a palliative aid distribution event resulted in the deaths of at least 10 people, including seven children.
Cyber Reporters gathered that several others were left injured.
Reports say the chaos unfolded as thousands of residents gathered at the church to receive aid, with many arriving as early as 4:00 AM.
The crowd surged forward between 7:00 AM and 8:00 AM, leading to the tragic loss of lives.
Eyewitnesses described the scene as chaotic, with one mother of five recounting the events:
“10 people have been reported dead, including children… Over 3,000 people came out to receive the palliative… Most of those present were residents of Mpape, Gishiri Village, and other nearby settlements.”
The Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria has confirmed the incident and announced the suspension of the palliative distribution.
Security forces were deployed to restore order, and the church grounds were gradually cleared as the crowd dispersed.
This incident follows a similar tragedy in Ibadan, Oyo State, where a stampede at a children’s event led to the deaths of at least 35 children.
