Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike has directed government hospitals in Abuja to provide free medical treatment to those injured in a stampede at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Maitama.
The tragic incident occurred during a food distribution event for the less privileged and elderly on Saturday morning.
The stampede, which happened around 6:30 a.m., claimed the lives of at least 10 people, including children, and left 10 others injured. The event, organized by the church, turned chaotic as the crowd struggled to access the distributed items.
In a statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Mr. Lere Olayinka, Wike expressed deep sorrow over the incident.
He assured that the FCT Administration would ensure proper medical care for the injured and extended his condolences to the bereaved families.
The minister also described the incident as “painful” and prayed for the repose of the victims’ souls.
To prevent similar tragedies, Wike has mandated that individuals and organizations must now seek police approval before organizing public palliative distributions involving food or cash.
The FCT Police Command reinforced this directive, emphasizing that organizers of public events must notify the police in advance to enable adequate security measures. Failure to comply will result in organizers being held liable for any incidents or fatalities.
Speaking on the matter, FCT Police Public Relations Officer SP Josephine Adeh highlighted the need for such measures to ensure public safety.
The Nigeria Police Force, through its spokesperson ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, also warned against unorganized palliative distributions, citing their role in recent stampedes and fatalities.
The police commended security agencies for their prompt response to the Maitama incident and vowed to prevent similar occurrences in the future.