At least 13 people were killed in a stampede on Saturday in Abuja and another city, while trying to obtain charitable aid.

In detail, at least 10 people died and others were injured in the capital, Abuja, in a stampede to receive charitable aid being distributed by the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in the Maitama area.

A police spokesperson stated: “This unfortunate incident, which occurred around 6:30 a.m., led to a stampede that claimed the lives of 10 individuals, including four children, and injured eight others to varying degrees.”

In Okija, Anambra State, in the country’s southeast, a number of people stampeded after an individual offered aid including rice, vegetable oil, and money.

The state police confirmed three deaths. However, witnesses and Amnesty International in Nigeria estimated the death toll at around 20, with others injured.

A statement from the presidential spokesperson said the president canceled all official activities in Lagos today, including his attendance at the Lagos Boat Regatta 2024, in honor of the stampede victims.

Similar Incidents

At least 32 people died in a similar incident last Thursday at an Islamic secondary school in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State in southwestern Nigeria.

Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, is facing its worst cost-of-living crisis in decades as reforms introduced by the president have cut subsidies on electricity and fuel, while currency devaluation has eroded purchasing power.

Amnesty International in Nigeria said in a statement on Saturday that “eating plain rice at home has become (for many Nigerians) a luxury.”

The organization urged authorities to investigate how these charitable events turned into disaster quickly, accurately, independently, and transparently.

Holy Trinity Catholic Church

Holy Trinity Catholic Church is a historic Catholic parish in Washington, D.C., founded in 1851 to serve the city’s growing Irish immigrant community. It is notable for being the first parish in the city to integrate its congregation racially in the 1960s and for its prominent Romanesque Revival architecture. The church remains an active parish and a significant landmark in the city’s social and religious history.

Maitama

Maitama is a modern, upscale district in Nigeria’s capital city of Abuja, primarily known for housing many government ministries, foreign embassies, and diplomatic residences. It was developed in the 1980s as part of the master plan for the new federal capital, designed to be a planned administrative and residential area. The name “Maitama” is derived from a local chief, and the area stands in contrast to the older, more historic cities of Nigeria, representing the country’s contemporary political and administrative center.

Okija

Okija is a town in southeastern Nigeria that gained international notoriety in the early 2000s due to reports of a shrine allegedly involved in rituals and occult practices. The site, often referred to as the “Okija Shrine,” brought widespread attention to traditional Igbo religious beliefs and sparked major police investigations. While specific historical details of the shrine itself are limited, the events highlighted the complex coexistence of indigenous spiritual systems and modern institutions in the region.

Anambra State

Anambra State is a southeastern Nigerian state created in 1976, known as the commercial and industrial hub of the region. It is historically significant as part of the ancient Kingdom of Nri, one of the oldest kingdoms in Nigeria, and is home to the renowned Onitsha Market, one of the largest in Africa. The state is also culturally rich, being the homeland of the Igbo people and a center for traditional festivals, masquerades, and the famous Ogbunike Caves.

Lagos

Lagos is a major port city in southwestern Nigeria, originally settled by the Yoruba people before becoming a center for the Atlantic slave trade in the 18th century. It later served as the capital of Nigeria from 1914 until 1991 and is now the country’s largest city and primary economic hub.

Lagos Boat Regatta 2024

The Lagos Boat Regatta is a vibrant annual festival in Lagos, Nigeria, celebrating the city’s rich aquatic heritage and the traditional fishing culture of its coastal communities. Historically rooted in the water-centric life of the Lagos lagoon and creeks, the 2024 edition continues this tradition by featuring colorful parades of decorated boats, canoe races, and cultural performances. It serves as a dynamic showcase of local artistry, unity, and maritime history.

Ibadan

Ibadan is a major city in southwestern Nigeria, historically founded in the 1820s as a war camp for warriors from various Yoruba subgroups during the period of the Yoruba civil wars. It grew into a powerful military and political force in the region, later becoming a prominent center of commerce, administration, and education, housing Nigeria’s first university. Today, it is known for its bustling markets, historic landmarks like the Mapo Hall, and its role as a hub for Yoruba culture.

Oyo State

Oyo State is a southwestern Nigerian state historically rooted in the ancient Oyo Empire, which was a major Yoruba kingdom from the 14th to the 19th century known for its political and military influence. Today, it is a modern administrative region with its capital at Ibadan, a city famed for its rich cultural heritage, vibrant markets, and academic institutions. Key historical sites include the Old Oyo National Park, which contains ruins of the empire’s ancient capital.