Abuja, Nigeria—A crumbling economy, fueled by the skyrocketing commodities, has significantly transformed givers into beggars in Nigeria; the happenings at Abuja, Anambra charity gathering and Oyo funfair exposed the situation.
Saturday, December 21, Nigeria recorded the tragic death of more than 13 citizens while several sustained injuries at a charity gathering where Holy Trinity Catholic Church and philanthropist Obi Jackson donated food items and other essentials to the less privileged as support to ease the celebration of Christmas.
While in Ibadan, Daily Episode gathered on Wednesday that about 35 children lost their lives in the Basorun area in Oyo State capital while attending a children’s Christmas party promised freebies by Naomi Silekunola Ogunwsi, Ooni of Ife’s ex-wife.
However, tragically, 10 people in Abuja and 3 in Anambra, including the 35 children’s deaths in Oyo, make a total of 48 deaths recorded in charity gatherings per official figures and several casualties recorded at the three events that turned deadly after the crowd scrambled to receive the palliatives were confirmed by the Nigerian police.
In Abuja, the police public relations officer, Josephine Adeh, stated the number of victims was eighteen victims; ten died while eight were hospitalized. The victims are mostly from Mpape, Gishiri, and nearby villages in the FCT, she said.
Like the Abuja incidents, the police jointly confirmed Anambra and Ibadan. The IGP calls for calm and suspending all relief items without notifying the Nigerian police for safety.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the IGP, Kayode Adeolu Egbetoku, warned against unorganized palliative distributions and funfairs across the country, as such posed dangers to the vulnerable.
“Henceforth, groups, government officials, community leaders, and non-governmental organizations or individuals should ensure proper arrangements and involvement of security agencies, as negligence on their part will be treated as a criminal offence as provided for in Sec. 196 of the Penal Code and Sec. 344 of the Criminal Code,” IGP added.
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