By: Bayero Ade
Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike has directed government hospitals to offer free medical treatment to those injured in a deadly stampede at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama, Abuja.
The incident, which occurred around 6:30 a.m. on Saturday, led to the deaths of at least 10 people, including children, and left 10 others injured. The stampede took place during a food distribution event aimed at helping the less privileged and elderly in the community.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Wike expressed his condolences to the victims and their families. He assured that the FCT Administration would provide the necessary medical care to the injured.
Furthermore, Wike directed that moving forward, individuals or organizations planning public distributions of palliatives—whether food or cash—must obtain police permission to ensure the safety of participants.
Describing the event as “painful,” the minister prayed for the souls of the deceased and strength for their families. He also praised the swift response of the police and other security agencies.
In addition, the police have issued a directive to all organizations, religious groups, and individuals planning public events or charitable activities in the FCT. According to a statement from FCT Police spokeswoman Josephine Adeh, failure to notify the police about such events could result in the organizers being held accountable for any incident or loss of life caused by negligence.
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