₦airaland Forum

The FCT Police Command has arrested the priest in charge of the Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Maitama, Abuja, where 10 people lost their lives in a stampede during the distribution of free food on Saturday.

The Catholic Archbishop of Abuja Diocese, Most Rev Ignatius Kaigama, who confirmed the arrest of the parish priest, stated that other officials of the church involved in the planning and execution of the ill-fated charity event were also arrested and are being detained by security agents.

The arrest of the priest and church officials came on the heels of an order by the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, for a thorough investigation into the stampedes that occurred in Abuja, Anambra and Oyo States all in one week.

Reacting to the arrest and detention of the church officials in his Christmas message on Wednesday, Kaigama condemned what he described as the “verbal demonization of the Catholic Church by some agents of government in responding to the
tragedy at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama.”

According to the Archbishop, the detention of the priest and officials of the church and the threat to slam criminal charges on the church “is to say the least, uninspiring, unfriendly and a misplaced zeal, and one wonders what purpose these were meant to serve.”

In the message titled ‘Christmas: A Season of Hope and Renewal”, Kaigama advised government officials to focus on “helping the organisers and the church to overcome their trauma instead of compounding it through arrest, detention and threat of criminal prosecution.”

A church official who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the priest and officials arrested have been taken into detention and will likely spend Christmas behind bars.

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has criticised the Nigeria Police over perceived double standards in handling recent stampedes that claimed lives during events in Ibadan, Abuja, and Anambra.

The group, led by its Executive Director, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, called for the immediate release of individuals arrested in connection with the Ibadan incident or the arrest of organisers responsible for similar tragedies in Abuja and Anambra.

Thirty-five children lost their lives last Wednesday during a stampede at a children’s funfair at Bashorun Islamic High School in Ibadan.

On Saturday, 10 people died during a palliative distribution at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Maitama, Abuja. Similarly, at least 20 residents of Okija, Anambra State, were reported dead following a stampede during rice distribution.

While the Oyo State Police Command detained Queen Naomi Silekunola, ex-wife of the Ooni of Ife, and others linked to the Ibadan tragedy, no arrests have been reported for the Abuja and Anambra incidents.

On Tuesday, a Chief Magistrate Court in Iyaganku, Ibadan, ordered the remand of Silekunola, Abdullahi Fasasi (principal of Bashorun Islamic High School), and Oriyomi Hamzat (proprietor of Agidigbo FM) at Agodi Correctional Centre.

Akintola condemned what he described as selective justice. “It is unacceptable that only the Ibadan organisers face arrest while those behind similar events in Abuja and Anambra remain free,” he stated.

He questioned why the principal of the Islamic High School was arrested despite confirmation from the school’s alumni that the venue was approved by the Oyo State Ministry of Education.

He also noted that the Obi Jackson Foundation, which organised the Okija palliative distribution, and the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Abuja had not faced similar repercussions.

“MURIC demands equal treatment. Arrest the Abuja and Okija organisers or release the Ibadan detainees. The Ibadan case should not be a scapegoat while others are ignored,” Akintola said.

The group urged the Oyo State Police Command to release those detained and called for a state government-led investigation into the incident. Akintola also urged the police nationwide to ensure fairness in their approach, adding that the tragedies should be addressed uniformly.

The Catholic Archbishop of Abuja Diocese, Most Rev Ignatius Kaigama, has condemned what he described as “verbal demonisation of the Catholic Church” by some agents of government in responding to the tragedy at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama, Abuja.

Arise News reports that about ten casualties were recorded during the distribution of palliatives given by St. Vincent de Paul.

According to Kaigama, the detention of the priest as well as some officials of the church and the threat to slam criminal charges on the Church “is to say the least, uninspiring, unfriendly and a misplaced zeal, and one wonders what purpose these were meant to serve.”

The cleric said the government should have been immediately concerned with assisting the Church to explore safety methods to preclude future occurrences in the nation’s earnest desire to do good.

Kaigama who expressed these views in his Message titled, “Christmas: A Season of Hope and Renewal”, called on Nigerian leaders to avoid greed by ensuring that the wealth and resources of the nation are not be hoarded by a few but used to alleviate poverty, improve education, create jobs, and provide affordable healthcare.

He said in the midst of the shadows that loom large over the nation, he was extending my heartfelt wishes to Nigerians in this Christmas season.

Kaigama said, “Christmas this year has come with a poignant blend of joy and solemn reflection, shadowed by tragedies related to the struggle for what to eat in Ibadan, Abuja, Okija, and Suleja. We in the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja deeply mourn the tragic loss of lives resulting from the unfortunate stampede also in our own Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Maitama.

This incident has left the Archdiocese and the parish community in profound grief, and our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims.

“The verbal demonisation however, of the Catholic Church by some agents of government responding to the tragedy was needless. They should have been immediately concerned with assisting the Church to explore safety methods to preclude future occurrences in our earnest desire to do good by denying ourselves what we need in order to help others without discrimination.

The detention of our priest as well as some officials of our church and the threat to slam us with criminal charges is to say the least, uninspiring, unfriendly and a misplaced zeal, and one wonders what purpose these were meant to serve.

“None of those agents shouting criminal charges at the church cared about the traumatic impact of this tragedy on these volunteers whose only desire was to feed the hungry. No one, up to now, has cared to find out about their emotional and mental disposition after experiencing the devastating impact of people struggling to find food to eat for the day.

I consider all those who so far, have suffered in connection with this tragedy because they dared to help, “the 2024 heroes of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja.” Up to this time of writing, no government agent or official has come in the spirit of compassion or empathy to find out first hand from the Church authorities what really happened and what they could offer so that the Church improves subsequent services to the poor.

All one hears is that this sort of event must not be organised again without permission!”

RenaissanceGuy:
Occultic people know what they're doing. Aside a few that are simply accidents, others were carefully planned to drain blood. It's because the police have not been arresting and jailing these blood suckers that they have carried on with their occultic practices.

TimeManager:
https://www.ripplesnigeria.com/police-arrests-abuja-catholic-priest-church-officials-over-palliative-stampede-deaths/

Malikdking:
What actually happened when people stamped themselves to death at the customs office ?? Who was arrested?

Please I'm just curious 🙏