A deadly crowd crush has occurred in Okija, a town in south-eastern Nigeria, leaving 22 people dead. The incident is the third such occurrence this week, where residents rushed to collect Christmas donations, including free food. Similar tragedies have been reported at a Catholic church in Abuja and a carnival event in Ibadan.
The police warn that charity events must be notified before holding them, in an effort to prevent such loss of life. Amnesty International Nigeria says President Bola Tinubu’s government must address widespread hunger and unemployment. Food costs have more than tripled in the last 18 months due to inflation and some policies.
President Tinubu has called for strict crowd control measures and cancelled his official engagements in honour of the victims. Authorities have noted the similarities between the incidents, including a school funfair in Ibadan where 35 children were killed. The police urge a more structured approach to delivering aid to vulnerable communities.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2nd578643o