Nigeria has been thrown into mourning since last week as scores of Nigerians, including children, were killed in stampedes in Abuja, Okija and Ibadan.
No fewer than 35 children were confirmed dead, and many others were severely injured following a stampede at a children’s funfair organised by Ooni of Ife’s ex-wife’s foundation in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital.
The incident was strongly condemned by Governor Seyi Makinde, who promised to deal with everyone involved in the incident.
Dozens of Nigerians also lost their lives in stampedes resulting from distribution of palliatives in both the Federal Capital Territory and Anambra on Saturday in the spirit of Christmas.
While over 10 people died in Abuja and others were severely injured, no fewer than 22 persons tragically lost their lives in Anambra.
These occurrences came amid several challenges confronting Nigerians.
The removal of the petrol subsidy and other economic decisions of President Bola Tinubu’s administration have plunged the country into unprecedented hardship, with millions of Nigerians at their wit’s end as they grapple with the high cost of living and widespread hunger.
Despite obvious consequences resulting from these avoidable decisions, Mr Tinubu has remained obstinate, insisting his hard policies are necessary to bring Nigeria from the brink of collapse.
In a statement on Sunday by the presidency, Mr Tinubu’s government deflected blame that his policies are the cause of the tragic stampedes. He pointed to other stampedes that happened in previous administrations.
Below is a list of stampedes in Nigeria between 2014 and 2024.
1. Immigration recruitment stampede in 2014. During a recruitment exercise by the Nigeria Immigration Service at various centres across Nigeria (Lagos, Kano, Rivers, Niger, Edo and Abuja), no fewer than 18 job seekers died, with many others injured, as thousands of applicants tried to enter the venues.
2. Stampede during almsgiving in Katsina in 2017. Five persons were confirmed dead during a stampede to collect N500 alms at the residence of a businessman, Kamal Ma’a Gafi, in Katsina.
2. Stampede at customs office in Lagos in 2024. The stampede occurred on February 23, 2024, during the struggle by a crowd at the distribution of seized bags of rice by the Nigeria Customs Service at its office in Yaba.
3. Port Harcourt church stampede in 2022. On 28 May 2022, 31 people were killed and seven others injured in a stampede in Port Harcourt at a church event where free food was to be given out.
4. Stampede in Nasarawa university in 2024. At least three students of the Nasarawa State University, Keffi, died in a stampede when the students looted rice given for distribution by the government.
5. Kwara sallah stampede in 2023. At least no fewer than 20 people died, while several others were injured during a sallah stampede in Ilorin, the Kwara capital. The incident occurred during rice distribution by former Governor Bukola Saraki.
6. Lagos church stampede in 2022. Two persons died after a stampede by worshippers at the Comfort Life Mission International Church, Lagos. The incident happened during a congregational service at the church.
7. Bauchi almsgiving stampede in 2024. On March 24, 2024, seven people were trampled to death in an almsgiving stampede at Shafa Holdings Company Plc on Jos Road in Bauchi.
