ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Death toll from stampede The number of participants at two Christmas charity events in Nigeria has increased from 13 to 32, police said on Sunday. The victims, including at least four children, collapsed as crowds surged as people became desperate for groceries as the country faces its worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation.
The dead included 22 people from Okija town in southeastern Anambra state, where philanthropists organized a food distribution on Saturday, local police spokesman Tochukwu Ikenga said. Ten other people died during a similar charity event organized by a church in the capital, Abuja.
Police announced they were investigating two incidents just days after the new attack. 35 children murdered.
Ahead of Christmas, local organizations, churches and individuals are increasingly organizing charity events in Africa’s most populous country to alleviate the economic hardship caused by major disasters. cost of living crisis.
Witnesses to the Abuja stampede told The Associated Press that around 4 a.m., hours before the gifts were to be distributed, dozens of people entered one of the church’s gates as the crowd tried to enter the compound. He said he did.
Some of them, including elderly people, waited overnight to get food, said Loves Yingyan, who rescued one baby from being crushed to death.
The rush has prompted calls for authorities to take safety measures at such events. The Nigeria Police Force also required organizers to obtain prior permission.
