Ten people, including four children, were trampled to death by a crowd in Nigeria's capital Abuja at a Christmas charity event at a local church where food was distributed, police spokeswoman Josephine Adeh said in a statement on Saturday. This is the second similar case in Nigeria within a week.
On Saturday in the capital Nigeria Abuja At least 10 people were killed and many injured in a race for gifts handed out at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama district, Reuters reports. The event took place early in the morning at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church. More than 1,000 people were evacuated from the temple.
This is the second similar case in Nigeria in a week. Last time, several children died. In Nigeria, which is Africa's most populous country and where the cost of living has skyrocketed, many charity events are now organized before Christmas.
Parcels of basic necessities are distributed to the poor in Lagos, Nigeria (Dec. 21, 2024)PAP/EPA/EMMANUEL ADEGBOYE
“Ordinary rice at home becomes a luxury”
Since President Bola Tinubu took office in May 2023, inflation rose in Nigeria to a record level of 28 percent, and the exchange rate of the local currency, the naira, fell to an unprecedented low against the dollar.
Dissatisfaction with the declining standard of living has led to the outbreak of mass protests in recent months. In August, at least 20 people were shot dead and hundreds were arrested during demonstrations demanding, among other things, greater employment opportunities for young people.
Reuters also draws attention to the statement Amnesty International Nigeria on Saturday, in which the organization said that for many Nigerians, “ordinary rice at home is becoming a luxury.”
Main photo source: PAP/EPA/EMMANUEL ADEGBOYE