₦airaland Forum

In a country reeling from economic despair, desperation has turned deadly. In the span of just five days, stampedes at food distribution events in Abuja, Anambra, and Ibadan have claimed lives, including at least 35 children. These tragic incidents underscore the harsh realities of hunger and poverty gripping Nigerians, pushing many to risk their lives for basic survival, Temitope Aina writes

In the midst of Nigeria’s spiralling economic crisis, a tragedy unfolded that highlighted the desperation gripping the nation. What was meant to be a routine relief distribution event turned deadly as a few, driven by the unyielding weight of hunger and poverty, surged toward scarce provisions.

A stampede ensued, claiming the lives of several individuals and leaving many others injured. As the dust settled, the painful reality became clear: Nigeria’s deepening economic challenges have not only strained the resources available to its people but also pushed them to extremes in search of basic survival.

Sorrow, tears, blood

The Federal Capital Territory was plunged into mourning on Saturday after a stampede at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Maitama, left 10 people dead, including four children.

The tragedy unfolded at 6:30 am during a relief distribution event intended for vulnerable groups. According to the state Police Public Relations Officer, Josephine Adeh, over 1,000 people had gathered at the venue, overwhelming organisers.

“Four of the injured have been treated and discharged, while the remaining victims continue to receive medical care,” Adeh said, adding that police had successfully restored order.

Just hours later, another stampede erupted at the Obijackson Centre in Okija, Anambra State, where a crowd gathered for palliatives donated by philanthropist Chief Ernest Obiejesi.

The 39 were killed who had struggled to gain access to food items, including rice, vegetable oil, and cash. As the crowd surged, chaos ensued, leaving many critically injured. Eyewitnesses recounted scenes of collapsed bodies andfrantic efforts to rescue the injured.

In Oyo State, what was meant to be a joyous Christmas Funfair in Ibadan turned catastrophic on Wednesday, leaving 35 children dead. Organised for 5,000 attendees by Prophetess Naomi Shikemi and broadcaster Oriyomi Hamzat, the event drew an unexpected crowd of over 7,500.

The stampede occurred as children pushed toward the gate in a desperate attempt to enter the overcrowded venue. “We were not organized; that’s why the situation got out of control,” an eyewitness admitted. Parents at the scene shared heartbreaking losses. One father mourned, “I lost my child. This should never have happened.”

Public outrage

Individuals, including Chinonso Egemba, popularly known as @aproko_doctor, decried the heartbreaking loss of young lives stating, “Children died struggling for food. Thirty-two children died struggling for food in a stampede. Children died while struggling for food,” he lamented in a tweet. Similarly, @the_beardedsina described the situation as appalling, saying, “Thirty children died and it isn’t trending. Not 30 chickens, not 30 goats… 30 humans dead!!! They died over a stampede for FOOD! HUNGER! In big 2024.”

Other commentators painted a grim picture of the systemic failures leading to the tragedies. @MrMekzy_ noted, “30+ children dead in Ibadan. 20+ adults dead in Okija. Nigerians are losing their lives because they’re trying to get something as basic as food. This is beyond sad.”

Recall that Nigeria’s inflation rate rose to 34.60 per cent in November 2024, marking a 0.72 per cent increase from October’s rate of 33.88 per cent. This latest surge in inflation continues to compound the hardship faced by Nigerians amid rising food and fuel prices. The data was revealed in the Inflation Expectations Survey Report for November published by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

The report from the National Bureau of Statistics further revealed that November 2024’s inflation rate was 6.40 percentage points higher than the 28.20 per cent recorded in November 2023. However, Nigerians are holding out hope that inflation will ease over the next six months, as expressed in the CBN’s survey, which suggests a potential slowdown in the inflationary trend in the coming months.

Additionally, PUNCH reported that Nigeria’s unemployment rate had increased marginally to 5.3 per cent in the first quarter of 2024, compared to 5.0 per cent in the third quarter of 2023. The latest data from the NBS highlights that women are disproportionately affected, with a higher unemployment rate of 6.2 per cent compared to men at 4.3 per cent.

In urban areas, unemployment remained steady at 6.0 per cent, while in rural areas, it stood at 4.3 per cent. Despite the government’s efforts to address the issue, unemployment remains a significant challenge for the Nigerian economy.

Recall that there had been a series of protests in Nigeria due to escalating economic hardships. Organizers of the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protests have vowed to continue their campaign, despite treason charges against those arrested during demonstrations. The protesters remain resolute in their demands, urging the government to prioritise the welfare of Nigerians amidst rising poverty and economic difficulties.

Tinubu, others react

Reacting to the tragedy, President Bola Tinubu cancelled all his official events in Lagos on Saturday, including his attendance at the 2024 Lagos Boat Regatta in honour of the stampede victims in Abuja and Okija, Anambra State.

Ex-Presidential aspirant Peter Obi, in a statement, described the stampedes as reflections of systemic failures.

“I am deeply saddened and distressed by the tragic loss of lives in desperate searches for food. A few days ago, about 35 people, mostly children, lost their lives in a stampede at a Christmas Funfair in Ibadan, Oyo State. This morning, reports emerged of at least 10 people losing their lives in Abuja while scrambling for palliatives, with many others injured. Now, I just heard that about 19 more lives were lost in another stampede in Okija, Anambra State, as people struggled to receive food items,” Obi said.

“How do we explain that in a nation blessed with abundant resources, our people are dying of hunger in such numbers? My heart bleeds. May God grant the affected families strength to bear these painful losses.”

The Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, “sympathised with families whose loved ones were involved in the stampede that led to the loss of lives in some States.”

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar also mourned the victims of the stampede in Ibadan. “I am deeply pained by the loss of innocent children in the unfortunate incident at the funfair. My heart goes out to their families and loved ones in this tragic time,” Atiku said.

The former Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi, in a statement through Ahmad Sajoh, his media head, described the incident as heartbreaking.

“The death of 35 children in a stampede in Ibadan is a tragedy that has cast a pall of sadness over the Christmas celebrations. I extend my deepest condolences to the families of the victims and the government of Oyo State,” Fayemi stated.

Speaker of the House of Representatives Abbas Tajudeen expressed his sorrow over the deaths, saying, “The death of these innocent children is a huge loss to their families, Oyo State, and Nigeria as a whole. I pray that God grants the affected families the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.”

Analysts blame economy

An economist and investment specialist, Vincent Nwani, has stated that the recent stampedes in Ibadan, which have resulted in tragic loss of lives, are part of a worrying trend over the last 18 months, with over 200 Nigerians falling victim to similar incidents.

According to Nwani, the root cause of these stampedes is the hunger that grips the nation, leading desperate people to engage in chaotic and unsafe behaviour. He criticised the organisers of these events for their poor crowd control, adding that these tragic incidents are consistently linked to hunger and continue to tarnish Nigeria’s global image.

“This is not the first time it has happened in Ibadan. Over the last 18 months, about 200 Nigerians have been trampled in relation to food distribution. The root cause is hunger, and the people don’t have energy. The people organising are not doing a good job in crowd control. Nigerian stampedes are always related to hunger, and it keeps painting Nigeria in a bad light,” Nwani explained. He further emphasised that the solution to the issue lies not in temporary fixes but in comprehensive economic reforms that address the root causes of hunger and poverty in the country.

“To correct the situation in Nigeria is not about rice but proper economic reform, and the government should still provide temporary solutions,” he concluded.

A financial analyst, Ambrose Omorodion, highlighted the worsening economic situation in Nigeria, pointing out that the current economic hardship is making life increasingly difficult for many citizens. He emphasized that poverty is rapidly spreading across the country, leading to growing impatience among the populace. This frustration, he noted, is further exacerbated by the lack of adequate resources, leaving people struggling to meet their basic needs.

Improved planning

In a phone interview with the President of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, Debo Adeniran, emphasised the importance of thorough planning when organising public events, especially large-scale ones.

Adeniran explained that event organisers must consider the number of guests, ensure proper provisions for minors, and guarantee that accompanying adults are well accounted for. He also pointed out that when events draw larger crowds than anticipated, more security personnel should be deployed, and crowd control measures should be in place. Additionally, he highlighted the role of the Ministry of Youth and Social Development in providing recommendations and overseeing the safety of such events.

“Whatever public events that people want to organise has to start with planning, keeping in mind the number of guests. If those invitees are minors, they are not expected to travel alone, and provisions should be made for those who would accompany the minor. Once the number exceeds what was planned for, more security personnel should be deployed, knowing that the venue cannot accommodate the number of people. Beyond that, there should be a control system because we have the Ministry of Youths and Social Development. The Ministry of Social Welfare should be aware and make recommendations on what should be done.”

Adeniran also suggested that those detained in relation to the stampede should face appropriate reprimands, which would serve as a deterrent and teach others to be more cautious in the future. He drew attention to a past incident where a similar lack of crowd management led to the deaths of many, noting that if those responsible had been reprimanded, valuable lessons could have been learned, potentially preventing future tragedies.

Source: https://punchng.com/how-stampedes-expose-nigerians-deep-hunger-accompanying-tinubu-economic-reforms/

Nigeria is gone long ago

Really sad.

Baby steps

Wait for the resident zombies to come tell you how stampede happened in Bangladesh and another time in Nigeria in 1993, that it is a global occurrence and has nothing to do with Tinubu.

In fact Tinubu is working and Nigerians are seeing the gains that people died from the wild jubilations.
Madness

Modified:

Before I even finished, Reno Omokiri is already saying same thing.
How stampede has happened in: He pointed out that similar tragedies had recently occurred in the United States, South Korea, Israel, and several European countries.

Hmmm....

What a country

Hn

Hmmm

Waiting for the mentally deranged praise singers to come and tell us otherwise

Tinubu Amoda Ogunlere,the fake Mobil Accountant brought nothing to this country order than sufferings and hardship even to his own people .
See how people are dying all over the country because of free rice that won't be more than a small paint bucket per person .
Meanwhile prior to Bulaba`s administration ,Nigerians used to share cooked rice ,stew and chicken meat to their neighbors during this period because the economy was good .

Na wa oh!

Na lie!
No be Tinubu's reform cause am, according to some people

People are really going through a lot this period.

The reform are only working In his family and those benefiting from it ... Because average Nigerians are there in the streets stampeding over rice they met at 7000 naira per bag in 2015

Stupid analysis.

Hunger does not lead to stampede.
Nigerians mentality of sharp man does.

Hunger did not start today and will not end today.

Put 20 Nigerians to wait for a 30 seater bus, they will still rush when the bus arrives.

Instead of us to critically look at the issue to prevent constant reoccurrence, we are attaching emotions to it to attract cheap valid.

Yesterday I had to sit my wife and kids down for 10 minutes and we discussed at length about this, I ended up asking my boys to give me a pledge they will avoid where very there is a crowd and they are sharing anything which they did.

If that rice was not to have been shared that day, peopwould still have gotten something to eat. Most of those who died if properly investigated were not hungry and could afford food.

The earlier we put emotions aside, we will become a functional society, for now let's just keep on doing what we know best,

Blame

RIP to the deceaseds.

Nigerians are hungry...the government should do something about it

Ellapthia:
Nigeria is gone long ago

Nigeria had a partial stroke in 1983 , full blown stroke in 1993 - 1998 ....
In 1999 - 2007 kidney problem,
In 2007 - 2015 liver cancer

In 2015 - 2023 , Bedridden

In May 29 , 2023 ..... Nigeria finally gave up the ghost ......

This is the cause of the stampedes

Well, well...

The same Nigerians killing themselves in stampedes over bag of rice will stampede again to vote for their demise in 2027

Who has cursed you so, o ye black man?

There is hunger in the land.

These giveaways aren't new in Nigeria but It has become more of an issue because there are more people in the poverty/hungry line hence the increase in crowds scrambling for food

At least yorubas are dying so they are feeling the pain of tribalism over commonsense

Tinubu has failed woefully

I Hope Reno responds to this or it is only Obi's posts he is programmed to respond to.

A fugitive looking for who to drag into the mud were he is king

kingbee90:

Tinubu Amoda Ogunlere,the fake Mobil Accountant brought nothing to this country order than sufferings and hardship even to his own people .
See how people are dying all over the country because of free rice that won't be more than a small paint bucket per person .
Meanwhile prior to Bulaba`s administration ,Nigerians used to share cooked rice ,stew and chicken meat to their neighbors because the economy was good .

what a coke-head.

Abeg who be Amoda Ogunlere

Proudlyngwa:

Stupid analysis.

Hunger does not lead to stampede.
Nigerians mentality of sharp man does.

Hunger did not start today and will not end today.

Put 20 Nigerians to wait for a 30 seater bus, they will still rush when the bus arrives.

Instead of us to critically look at the issue to prevent constant reoccurrence, we are attaching emotions to it to attract cheap valid.

Yesterday I had to sit my wife and kids down for 10 minutes and we discussed at length about this, I ended up asking my boys to give me a pledge they will avoid where very there is a crowd and they are sharing anything which they did.

If that rice was not to have been shared that day, peopwould still have gotten something to eat. Most of those who died if properly investigated were not hungry and could afford food.

The earlier we put emotions aside, we will become a functional society, for now let's just keep on doing what we know best,

Blame

RIP to the deceaseds.

thunder fire your and Ogun kill your mama for this rubbish

Jacobx007:
This is the cause of the stampedes

this is so sad

Bola Tinubu is the cause of the recent stampedes in the country. He is an incompetent vagabond and a total calamity for Nigeria.

This is not due to hunger but a reflection of the Nigerian pysche or disorderliness.

Was there not a disgraceful stampede by lawyers (of all people) for gifts at the NBA conference in 2023? Was that hunger or the pysche of the typical Nigerian on display at all strata of society ?

Sleekfingers:
Nigeria had a partial stroke in 1983 , full blown stroke in 1993 - 1998 ....
In 1999 - 2007 kidney problem,
In 2007 - 2015 liver cancer

In 2015 - 2023 , Bedridden

In May 29 , 2023 ..... Nigeria finally gave up the ghost ......

😂😂😂😂
You're a bad Boy

ReubenE:
Baby steps

Wait for the resident zombies to come tell you how stampede happened in Bangladesh and another time in Nigeria in 1993, that it is a global occurrence and has nothing to do with Tinubu.

In fact Tinubu is working and Nigerians are seeing the gains that people died from the wild jubilations.
Madness

Modified:

Before I even finished, Reno Omokiri is already saying same thing.
How stampede has happened in: He pointed out that similar tragedies had recently occurred in the United States, South Korea, Israel, and several European countries.

Blame Bola Tinubu for your own laziness, nonsense Thing.

What they don't understand is that we are talking about a rice stampede.
Rice stampede, Stampede for rice. People died because of rice.
Rice stampede in a country with the largest rice pyramid on earth.

2027 elections, in honour of those children we go dey campaign with empty rice bags for PDP to remind Nigerians cuz they too get short memory.

ReubenE:
Baby steps

Wait for the resident zombies to come tell you how stampede happened in Bangladesh and another time in Nigeria in 1993, that it is a global occurrence and has nothing to do with Tinubu.

In fact Tinubu is working and Nigerians are seeing the gains that people died from the wild jubilations.
Madness

Modified:

Before I even finished, Reno Omokiri is already saying same thing.
How stampede has happened in: He pointed out that similar tragedies had recently occurred in the United States, South Korea, Israel, and several European countries.