Leadnaija
Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has directed all government hospitals in Abuja to provide free medical treatment to individuals injured during a stampede at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama.
The tragic incident occurred on Saturday morning during the distribution of food items to less privileged individuals and the elderly, resulting in at least 10 fatalities, including children, and 10 injuries…N..>>Don’t Miss Out! CLICK HERE TO KEEP READING> >>>
In a statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, Wike assured that the FCT Administration would ensure proper medical care for the injured. He expressed condolences to the victims and their families, describing the event as “painful.” The minister also prayed for the repose of the souls lost in the tragedy and for strength for their families to bear the loss.
To prevent future occurrences, Wike directed that police approval must be obtained for any public distribution of food items, cash, or other palliatives. He commended the security agencies for their swift response to the incident, stating, “The promptness in which security agencies responded to the incident was commendable.”
The FCT Emergency Management Department (FEMD) also sympathized with the victims. Acting Director-General Abdulrahman Mohammed reported that nine of the 10 injured individuals initially admitted to Maitama District Hospital had been treated and discharged.
He urged organizations planning charitable activities to involve security agencies or FEMD for proper planning, emphasizing the use of crowd control measures such as coupons and group segregation to avoid chaos.
Similarly, the FCT Police Command issued a directive requiring organizations, religious groups, or individuals to notify the police of any planned public events. Police Public Relations Officer SP Josephine Adeh explained that this would enable adequate security arrangements to ensure public safety. She warned that failure to comply would result in organizers being held accountable for any loss of life or incidents arising from negligence.
According to the information obtained by dailytrust, The Nigeria Police Force also issued a national warning against unregulated palliative distributions.
Force Public Relations Officer ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi highlighted the increasing number of stampedes at such events, stressing the need for proper organization and safety measures.
As Abuja mourns the victims of this tragedy, the directives from the FCT Administration and law enforcement aim to ensure such incidents do not recur, while providing solace to affected families…N..>>Don’t Miss Out! CLICK HERE TO KEEP READING> >>>
