The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has raised alarms over a series of stampedes during food and cash distribution events, resulting in the tragic loss of at least 67 lives within four days.
In a statement issued on Sunday, CAN President Daniel Okoh extended heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, describing the incidents in Abuja, Anambra, and Oyo states as a “troubling pattern.”
The most recent tragedy occurred at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama, Abuja, where a stampede on Saturday claimed the lives of at least 10 people, including children, as they sought assistance from the church.
“This tragedy is not just statistics; it represents real families who are hurting. Each person lost was someone’s beloved family member,” Okoh said, expressing condolences to the Catholic Church and affected families.
CAN noted that the Abuja stampede is one of three recent disasters. On December 18, a Christmas funfair at a school in Ibadan ended in tragedy when a stampede claimed 35 young lives, leaving six others critically injured.
The event, meant to provide cash and food to over 5,000 children, has sparked investigations into crowd control protocols.
Similarly, another stampede occurred during a rice distribution program in Anambra State, where 22 people lost their lives, and 32 others were injured.
“These heartbreaking incidents highlight the challenges of managing large crowds during charitable events,” CAN stated, urging authorities and event organizers to prioritize safety and adopt effective crowd management strategies.
The association also emphasized the need for national solidarity and compassion in the wake of these tragedies, calling on Nigerians to support grieving families and foster an environment of healing and understanding.
“These are times for compassion and unity as we work towards ensuring such tragedies never happen again,” Okoh concluded.
Amidst growing public concern, experts have called for the implementation of modern crowd control technologies and better planning for large gatherings.
This comes as stakeholders demand accountability and strategies to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
Vice President Kashim Shettima has described the stampedes as a “national tragedy” and extended condolences to the bereaved families, further urging prompt investigations to identify gaps and improve safety measures in future humanitarian initiatives.
As the nation mourns these avoidable losses, CAN’s plea for improved safety mechanisms serves as a call to action for stakeholders to prioritize lives over logistics in the planning of charitable events.