Nigeria’s Minister of Women Affairs has asked for more cautious approaches by philanthropists planning to support the needy during the festive period. Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim advised that more spacious and open areas should be used, while giving out material or cash items.
Recently, lives were lost in stampede cases recorded in Maitama and Okija areas of Abuja, the country’s capital and Anambra state respectively.
The Minister added that such philanthropic efforts should be scheduled at a time when the crowd is expected to be smaller.
Local reports say ten persons were confirmed dead, while eight others were injured on Saturday morning when the stampede occurred at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama, Abuja, as palliatives were distributed to the poor and elderly.
However, there’s been varying degrees of reported number of persons to have lost their lives, also the injured in both stampede incidents.
“I’m deeply pained by the news of stampedes in Abuja and Okija in Anambra State today. As a mother, I understand the pain of losing anyone in death under such horrible circumstances, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim was quoted in a statement issued by the Ministry on Saturday.
“I join the families and governments of the FCT and Anambra State in these distressing moments and feel the pains of those directly affected.
“These incidences are avoidable if adequate safety measures are put in place. I hereby call on security agencies to investigate these cases to forestall future occurrences.
“By implementing the above measures, the risk of stampedes during food distribution would be minimised”, she stated.
The Minister also called for security agencies to investigate the stampede cases to prevent future occurrences.