Tag: stampedes

• By Zayd Ibn Isah

The last few days have been marked by shocking yet heart-breaking reports of stampedes in Ibadan, Anambra, and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, where over 40 people were confirmed dead while scrambling for food.

The tragic incidents began in Ibadan, where a Christmas funfair organized by Queen Naomi, the ex-wife of the revered Ooni of Ife, for over 1,000 children at the famous Islamic High School in the Bashorun district, turned disastrous. An event meant to be a joyful Christmas celebration ended in a fiasco, as about 35 children lost their lives in the ensuing chaos.

It was a national tragedy of immense proportion. Many Nigerians began asking questions about what transpired and insisting on answers. “Were there no police officers present? If the police were present, what were they doing to allow the motherland to lose 35 of her children—children born through the pain of labour—in one fell swoop? Ah! Heads must roll.” These are some of the questions and reactions that trailed the tragic incident.

However, just as the nation was nursing the wound of losing 35 leaders of tomorrow, and before the dust could settle, news of similar incidents came in from Okija and even Abuja, the seat of power.

The Abuja stampede happened at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama. Meanwhile, the Anambra stampede occurred at Amamaranta Stadium in Okija during a rice distribution event organised by Chief Ernest Obiejesi, a well-known businessman and philanthropist, through his foundation, the Obijackson Foundation.

Although it is heart-breaking that people have to lose their lives in the struggle to find food to eat, one thing we can take away from the organisers of these charity events is their pure intention to give back to society.

Surely, these tragedies could have been avoided or mitigated if relevant government agencies had been involved. Hence, the question of negligence arises. Or perhaps, they underestimated the number of people who would show up to get food, which is why they didn’t involve the police. But how could they not have foreseen this, given the current socio-economic situation the country is facing? Let us even forget about the fact that there is hunger in the land; naturally, we are accustomed to freebies. Hunger or no hunger, organise a charity event today, and you would be surprised by the large number of people who would turn up. Even those who have enough to eat would want more.

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Unfortunately, the tragic history of stampedes in Nigeria is not a new phenomenon. Over the years, various stampedes have claimed countless lives, often during events where large crowds gather to receive charity or partake in public celebrations.

One of the most devastating incidents occurred in 2010 in Lagos, when a stampede at the National Stadium during a free distribution of rice and other goods led to the deaths of over 15 people. The event, organised by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other bodies, was intended to help the vulnerable but ended in disaster due to a lack of adequate crowd control measures. This incident highlighted the same issues: insufficient planning, poor crowd management, and the absence of adequate security forces to manage the influx of people.

In 2013, another tragic stampede occurred in Port Harcourt during a charity event organised by the late Christian philanthropist, Pastor Bimbo Odukoya Foundation. During the distribution of gifts and food items to thousands of attendees, a rush for food led to a stampede that resulted in the deaths of several individuals. Again, there were no clear provisions for crowd control, and the event organisers were left to deal with the chaos without the necessary support from the authorities.

In 2017, a stampede occurred in the Okadigbo community in the south-eastern part of Nigeria, where food distribution organised by a popular Nigerian billionaire led to the deaths of at least 10 people. The situation was worsened by a lack of sufficient law enforcement officers at the scene, and the overcrowding caused an uncontrollable rush for the food, leading to chaos and the unfortunate loss of lives.

These tragic incidents should leave us with heavy hearts. While it is easy to blame the organisers for inadequate planning, we must also take a moment to reflect on our own lack of orderliness. Do we really need the presence of police personnel or a battalion of soldiers to maintain orderliness in the twenty-first century?

After the stampedes in Ibadan, Okija, and Abuja, I came across a video of a Christmas giveaway in Canada, where about 15,000 people gathered to collect food. At first, I was shocked that people could actually queue up for free food in almighty Canada. As we used to say in our street parlance, “Everywhere is red.”

According to the organisers, their initial plan was to cater to 1,000 people, but 15,000 showed up. Despite the rain, people waited patiently for hours, and only 2,000 were fortunate enough to leave with food.

They never even intended to involve the police until they saw the large crowd. If only 2,000 or 5,000 people had shown up, they wouldn’t have bothered the police, knowing well that the people would conduct themselves responsibly. Now, that is how civilised people behave.

And mind you, the charity event in Canada wasn’t much different from those organised in Nigeria. The key difference, however, was that no deaths were recorded. This was because the people conducted themselves in an orderly manner, even under challenging circumstances. Ironically, some of those in the Canadian queue may have been Nigerians, who might not have behaved as patiently had they been back home.

Former Lagos Police Commissioner Fatai Owoseni once shared a story about a friend visiting from USA. This friend committed a traffic offense in Lagos and was arrested on the spot. He called Owoseni to complain, saying, “Your boys have arrested me.” When Owoseni asked what he had done, the friend admitted to breaking traffic rules. To the friend’s surprise, Owoseni responded, “Would you have acted this way in America if you had been arrested for breaking traffic laws?” Embarrassed, the friend hung up.

This anecdote emphasizes a fundamental truth: our conduct in public reflects who we are as a society. In Nigeria, many people obey traffic rules only when traffic wardens are present. Even basic actions like joining queues at banks or fuel stations often require security guards with sticks to enforce compliance, as though we were sheep. It’s worth asking: does the saying “human beings are higher animals” really apply to us?

As we begin a new year, let us resolve to embrace a culture of orderliness. While we hold our leaders accountable for their actions, we must also strive to be exemplary followers. Imagine a society where charity events bring only joy and support, not sorrow and feelings of melancholy.

Together, we can build a nation where compassion meets respect and tragedy is replaced by progress. The journey starts with us.

•Isah can be reached at lawcadet1@gmail.com

• By Ogungbile Emmanuel Oludotun

In just one long week, Nigeria witnessed three devastating stampedes that claimed the lives of over 50 people and left scores injured. From a children’s funfair in Ibadan to a charity event in Abuja and a palliative distribution in Okija, these tragedies are hard reminders of systemic failures that continue to plague the nation. While the immediate triggers vary, the underlying causes point to a complex web of negligence, poverty, and lack of institutional oversight.

The first of these tragic events unfolded at the Islamic High School in Orita Bashorun, Ibadan, during what was supposed to be a joyous children’s funfair. At least 35 young lives were lost, some others injured, as chaos erupted due to poor crowd control. Initial investigations suggest that the situation spiralled out of control when entry fees were suddenly reduced, and some attendees were allowed in for free. This mismanagement, coupled with the sheer number of attendees, led to panic and a deadly stampede before the event had even started.

In Okija, Anambra State, another cold incident occurred during the distribution of palliatives by Chief Ernest Obiejesi, a prominent community philanthropist. The rush for basic necessities, rice, vegetable oil, and money ended in tragedy as a large crowd surged uncontrollably toward the venue’s entrance. The victims, mostly women and children, were crushed in the melee, highlighting the desperate circumstances of many Nigerians who rely on such donations for survival. Shoes and personal items strewn across the chaotic scene bore silent witness to the panic and despair that ensued. The event, meant to bring relief, instead became a deadly race for survival, with those in the greatest need bearing the highest cost.

As if these were not enough, tragedy struck again in Abuja at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama, where 10 people, including four children, lost their lives during a charity food distribution. The event, intended to provide sustenance to the vulnerable and elderly, became yet another grim spectacle of desperation and chaos. Despite the police’s emphasis on the need for organizers to notify authorities of such events, the warning came too late for the victims of these poorly planned initiatives. Much like the other events, a lack of adequate preparation led to an unmanageable crowd and a fatal disaster.

Each of these tragedies reveals a pattern of preventable errors and systemic neglect. The event organizers clearly underestimated the scale of attendance and failed to implement basic safety measures, such as limiting access, arranging staggered entry, or employing trained security personnel. Their actions—or inactions—turned moments meant for joy and relief into scenes of unimaginable grief. Despite the pure intentions of those involved, these oversights have cost lives.

However, the blame does not lie solely with the organizers. These stampedes expose the depth of poverty and inequality in Nigeria, where millions of citizens are forced to scramble for scarce resources. For many, a free meal or a discounted funfair is not just a luxury but a lifeline. This desperation, fuelled by years of economic mismanagement and government inaction, creates fertile ground for such tragedies to occur. The desire to receive a free meal or a discounted service often drives people to act recklessly, as they risk their safety in the hope of gaining something they cannot afford otherwise.

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Institutional failures also loom large. The absence of effective regulatory frameworks to ensure public safety at large gatherings leaves citizens vulnerable. While police might have issued directives for event organizers to seek police approval, these measures remain reactive rather than preventive.

Globally, stampedes are not unique to Nigeria. The Nzérékoré Stampede in Guinea early this year, during a soccer match, claimed 56 lives. In Hathras, India, over 120 people lost their lives in a funeral stampede earlier this year, and just recently, a Congo Music Concert stampede claimed many lives. These events highlight that the problem is not isolated to Nigeria but is a broader, international issue. However, the root causes—poor planning, inadequate crowd control, and desperation—remain consistent across borders.

In response to these recurring tragedies, there is a pressing need for a more structured and robust legal framework to govern public events in Nigeria. Drawing inspiration from the UK’s Martyn’s Law, a legislation designed to ensure public spaces are prepared for potential threats and mass gatherings, Nigeria’s House of Representatives and Senate should look into similar laws. These laws could mandate crowd control measures, event planning approvals, and thorough safety checks.

While I understand the anger and frustration of many Nigerians, especially the authorities who are arresting organizers in these cases, I can’t help but feel a sense of compassion. Yes, the organizers failed in their duty to ensure adequate preparation, and that failure led to the loss of innocent lives. But their intention was, undoubtedly, pure, to bring relief to people in need. It’s important to recognize that these tragedies stem from systemic neglect, not malicious intent. Arresting the organizers may serve as a temporary solution, but it does not address the underlying issues that caused these stampedes in the first place.

Moreover, technology offers innovative solutions. Mobile ticketing systems and pre-registration platforms could help control attendance and prevent overcrowding. Additionally, public education campaigns can play a crucial role in mitigating such disasters. Countries like South Korea have implemented community training programs on crowd behaviour and safety during emergencies, having learned their lesson after the Seoul Halloween crush. In Nigeria, similar initiatives could instil a culture of patience and awareness, reducing the risk of panic-induced stampedes.

Addressing poverty, however, remains the cornerstone of preventing these tragedies. Until the desperation that drives people to risk their lives for basic necessities is addressed, the cycle of loss will persist.

Now, until Nigeria confronts its systemic failures head-on, through better planning, technology integration, public education, and poverty alleviation, the cycle of avoidable tragedies will persist, leaving more families shattered and more lives lost. May the souls of departed find a place of peace.

•Oludotun writes via thedreamchaser65@gmail.com>