Kehinde Fajobi
The Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Zubaida Umar, has urged organisers of palliative distribution events to prioritise effective crowd management to prevent tragedies.
Her appeal follows a series of fatal stampedes in Ibadan, Oyo State; Okija, Anambra State; and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, which collectively resulted in multiple deaths and injuries over just four days.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Umar expressed concern over the poor planning and lack of crowd control that led to these incidents.
“While sympathising with the families of the deceased and those injured, she urged organisers of similar events to engage professionals and seek the support of security agencies to manage crowds effectively.
“She emphasised the importance of ensuring safety during such activities to prevent recurring tragedies,” the statement read.
Umar noted that the goodwill behind such charity events often gets overshadowed by grief when safety protocols are overlooked. She also highlighted NEMA’s preparedness to respond to emergencies during the busy yuletide season.
“The Director-General said all Zonal, Territorial, and Operations offices of the agency have been activated to respond to emergencies and provide support to first responders in the area of traffic management due to the usual increase of traffic during the yuletide and end-of-the-year festivities,” the statement added.
On December 18, a children’s funfair in Ibadan, Oyo State, ended tragically when a stampede claimed the lives of 35 children, leaving others critically injured.
Three days later, on December 21, 10 people lost their lives at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama, Abuja, during a palliative distribution for the vulnerable and elderly.
In Okija, Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, a similar event organised by philanthropist Obi Jackson resulted in three fatalities and several injuries.