The Minister for Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim has mourned the loss of lives following stampede incidents in Maitama, Abuja, and Okija, Anambra State.
PUNCH Online reports that 10 persons were confirmed dead with about eight others injured on Saturday morning, following a stampede at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama, Abuja, during the distribution of palliatives to poor and elderly persons in the church premises.
Similarly, three persons died at a palliative distribution event organised by a philanthropist, Obi Jackson in Okija, Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, leaving many others injured.
In a statement on Saturday, Sulaiman-Ibrahim commiserated with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and the Anambra State Governor, Prof Charles Soludo, over the losses, noting, however, that the incidents could have been avoided with better crowd control measures in place.
She also admonished Nigerians who were planning similar distributions to choose spacious, open areas with minimal obstacles, adding that distributions should be scheduled at a time when the crowd is likely to be smaller.
She also called for security agencies to investigate the stampede cases to forestall any future occurrences.
The statement read in parts, “I’m deeply pained by the news of stampedes in Abuja and Okija in Anambra State today. As a mother, I understand the pain of losing anyone in death under such horrible circumstances. I join the families and governments of the FCT and Anambra State in these distressing moments and feel the pains of those directly affected.
“These incidences are avoidable if adequate safety measures are put in place. I hereby call on security agencies to investigate these cases to forestall future occurrences. By implementing the above measures, the risk of stampedes during food distribution would be minimised.”
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