ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Tragedy struck across Nigeria as three separate Christmas charity events resulted in devastating stampedes, claiming the lives of at least 67 individuals, including many children. These heartbreaking incidents come at a time when families are grappling with the country’s most severe cost-of-living crisis in a generation.
In the southwestern Oyo state on Wednesday, a staggering 35 children lost their lives in a stampede. Subsequently, in the southeastern Anambra state, 22 people perished, followed by another 10 fatalities in the capital city of Abuja. The latter incident occurred as over 1,000 people congregated at a church in hopes of receiving essential clothing and food items.
The dire circumstances prompting individuals in Africa’s most populous nation to put themselves at risk for holiday donations are rooted in the unprecedented levels of inflation currently plaguing the country. “There is hunger in this Nigeria. Every Nigerian needs food,” lamented a tearful woman in an interview with local Arise television following the tragic stampede in Abuja.
The economic turmoil gripping Nigeria is attributed to the government’s fiscal policies aimed at cost-cutting and attracting investments, inadvertently driving the inflation rate to a 28-year high of 34.6%. Concurrently, the national currency, the naira, has plummeted to record lows against the dollar. Alarming statistics reveal that over 63% of Nigeria’s vast population of more than 210 million people live in poverty, as reported by the government’s statistics office.
The scarcity of job opportunities exacerbates the situation, leading to heightened social unrest. When citizens mobilize to protest the hardships they face, the response from security forces is swift and severe, as evidenced by the tragic events of last August, where over 20 individuals were fatally shot during nationwide demonstrations.
Cheta Nwanze, managing partner at the respected SBM Intelligence research firm based in Lagos, expounds on the grim reality faced by the average Nigerian. He notes that a significant portion of the population allocates a substantial portion of their income towards acquiring food, a situation that has only worsened over time.
The tragic stampedes in Abuja and Anambra underscore the challenges of ensuring public safety amidst widespread desperation. Witnesses and law enforcement accounts reveal that the chaos unfolded as individuals vied for advantageous positions before the events commenced. In Abuja, the charity event had to be abruptly canceled, leaving essential supplies untouched inside the church premises.
Security experts emphasize the need for heightened vigilance and preparedness during such charitable gatherings to prevent future disasters. Ademola Adetuberu, who heads the Abuja-based Barricade Executive Protection security firm, stresses the importance of prioritizing security measures at these events.
President Bola Tinubu has urged authorities to address the operational deficiencies that contribute to such tragic incidents, while the police now require organizers to secure prior permission for hosting events. However, the enforcement of these regulations remains a persistent challenge, given
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