Abuja – Victims of the stampede that occurred on Saturday at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama, Abuja, have been discharged from the Maitama District Hospital, authorities confirm.
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, has directed that all victims receive free medical treatment. This directive was issued in a statement by the Minister’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka. The stampede happened during the church’s annual food outreach for the needy.
Minister Wike emphasized the need for police approval for any future public distribution of palliatives, such as food or cash, to prevent such tragedies. Expressing grief over the incident, he described the loss of 10 lives, including four children, as deeply painful. He extended his condolences to the families of the deceased, praying for the repose of their souls and strength for their loved ones. The Minister also assured that the government would ensure proper medical care for the injured.
Commending the police and other security agencies for their swift response, Wike noted that their timely intervention helped to manage the situation.
In a related development, the Acting Director-General of the FCT Emergency Management Department (FEMD), Engr. Abdulrahman Mohammed, expressed his sympathy to the victims’ families and the church. He confirmed that nine of the 10 injured victims had been discharged from the hospital.
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The tragic stampede occurred during the distribution of palliatives to underprivileged community members, claiming 10 lives and leaving 10 others injured.
Engr. Abdulrahman urged organizations planning public distributions to involve security agencies or the FEMD to ensure proper crowd control. He recommended using coupons and dividing beneficiaries into smaller groups to prevent overcrowding.
He further reminded residents to use the toll-free emergency number, 112, to report disasters or emergencies promptly.
