On the Recent Stampede in Three States in Nigeria: Questions, Questions and More Questions
My edit.
I don't know how to start this piece. I'm overwhelmed by the news that scores people died in three different stampedes across Nigeria within the space of one week and most of the opinions I read on social media had political undertones. How did we lose our humanity? How did we get to this point as a people where we politicise tragedies?
When the organisers of a Christmas funfair in Ibadan prepared to receive 5,000 people, nothing prepared them for an additional 7,500 that appeared at the gate of the Islamic High School, the venue of the event. Of course, the place was overcrowded and the worst case scenario played out. While people were attempting to rush in with the promise of free food, the situation turned sour and… a stampede happened. Authorities report that over 35 children died in the stampede while 8 critically injured children are still receiving treatment in the hospital.
Could this have been averted? I don't know, but I think that if people pre-registered, it will help the organisers to plan better. If people had to turnup at the event with a pass, only the number that was planned for will be let in. But just now, another thought occurred to me. Will the registration be online or on-site. The people who went to that programme on the promise of free food may not have access to online pre-registration. If it is on-site, will the crowd be controlled to avert the same story we are now sympathising with?
You will think tragedy will allow us to catch our breath before striking again, but less than 48 hours after the first incident, Abuja, the Federal Capital, was thrown into mourning as 10 people including 4 children were killed in a stampede that occurred in a church where food was being distributed to over 1,000 people. One thing is unclear here though, the food was meant for the vulnerable and elderly, and I interpret that to mean people living with disabilities and the aged, but who in this category rushed and caused a stampede? Or were there able-bodied people who were made vulnerable by economic imperatives? And if so, did they rush out of greed or survival instinct?
You will think that's enough bad news for one day. No, the same day, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Anambra State Command confirmed that men of the Nigeria Police had the scene in Okija, Anambra, where another stampede occurred in the early hours of Saturday, 21 December, 2024 where 22 people reportedly list their lives. The event: a philanthropist, in his yearly tradition, was giving out palliatives to the less privileged in Okija community. If this event is something that happens annually, why is this year so different?
My sympathies to all who lost loved ones in these tragedies. May God grant you the fortitude to bear the loss. However, we most reflect at this time. An eyewitness at the Okija incident said there were enough bags of rice to go round all who were present, question is why the rush to collect food when it will eventually get to you? Greed? Impatience? Or just survival instincts? We must learn to be disciplined and exercise restraint in situations like this to stay out of danger.
In the same breath, I want to sympathise with the organisers of these events. They had noble thoughts when they planned these charity events, I doubt if any of them saw this tragedy coming. And here's hoping more people who have means help the less privileged. Put a smile on someone's face this Christmas.