Stampedes in Nigeria kill over 32 people, Amnesty International calls for investigation
ABUJA — The death toll from stampedes during two Christmas charity events in Nigeria has increased from 13 to 32, police said on Sunday.
The victims, including at least four children, collapsed during crowd surges as people grew desperate for food items while the country grapples with the worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation.
The dead included 22 people in Okija town, southeastern Anambra state, where a philanthropist organised a food distribution on Saturday, according to local police spokesman Tochukwu Ikenga. Meanwhile, ten others died in the capital, Abuja, during a similar charity event organised by a church.
Police said they were investigating the two incidents, only days after another stampede claimed the lives of several children.
Witnesses of the Abuja stampede told The Associated Press there was a crowd surge at one of the church gates, as dozens tried to enter the premises at around 4 a.m., hours before gift items were to be shared.
Some of them, including older people, waited overnight to get food, said Loveth Inyang, who rescued one baby from the crush.
The stampedes prompted growing calls for authorities to enforce safety measures at such events. Nigerian police also mandated that organisers obtain prior permission.
Amnesty International urged authorities on Saturday to promptly, thoroughly, independently, and transparently investigate how these charity events descended into disaster.
Africa’s most populous country is seeing a growing trend by local organisations, churches, and individuals to organise charity events ahead of Christmas to ease economic hardship caused by a cost-of-living crisis.
In November, inflation rose to 34.60% in annual terms NGCPIY=ECI from 33.88% in October, marking a third consecutive monthly rise.
