Africa (Commonwealth Union) _ The death toll from a crowd crush in Okija, a town in southeast Nigeria, has tragically risen to 22, according to police reports. This marks the third fatal crowd incident within a single week at events distributing free food, underscoring a deepening crisis.
The Okija incident occurred during a Saturday charity event distributing Christmas provisions such as rice and vegetable oil. Simultaneously, a similar disaster at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Abuja claimed 10 lives, while earlier in the week, 35 children lost their lives at a school carnival in Ibadan. The recurring theme is clear: desperation for food amidst economic hardship is pushing vulnerable communities into peril.
Witness accounts from Abuja reveal chaotic scenes as attendees forced their way through gates, with devastating consequences. Vulnerable groups, including elderly individuals and children, bore the brunt of the tragedy.
Amnesty International Nigeria called for immediate government intervention, emphasizing the need to address the root causes: widespread hunger, soaring unemployment, and deteriorating living standards. Nigeria’s food and transportation costs have tripled over the past 18 months, a situation exacerbated by economic policies such as the removal of a fuel subsidy.
President Bola Tinubu expressed profound grief over the loss of life, urging state governments to implement stringent crowd control measures for public events. In a show of solidarity, he canceled all official engagements to honor the victims. Tinubu also highlighted the striking similarities among these incidents, stressing the need for better coordination and safety protocols.
In Ibadan, where the death toll from a school carnival reached 35, eyewitnesses described the harrowing scene. Over 5,000 people, lured by promises of free food, overwhelmed the event, leading to chaos as parents and children attempted to scale fences for access.
Police spokesperson Olumuyiwa Adejobi emphasized the need for structured and efficient mechanisms for distributing aid. He highlighted these tragic events as stark reminders of the urgent reforms needed to prevent further loss of life.
These incidents expose the harsh realities faced by many Nigerians, where economic strain has turned charity events into battlegrounds for survival. As the nation mourns, it must also reflect on the systemic changes required to address the hunger crisis, ensuring safety and dignity for its most vulnerable citizens.
