During the struggle for survival amidst Nigeria’s deepening economic crisis Amarachi Nwosu, 32, cannot forget the chaos that engulfed the Holy Trinity Catholic Church grounds this morning. Although she and her three-year-old son almost died, she is apprehensive about where the next meal will come from.
Clutching her three-year-old son, Obinna, she remembers the frantic push of the crowd as thousands rushed to receive palliatives.
“I didn’t even know what was going on. I just wanted to get food for my children. Suddenly, I felt people pushing me, and I lost my balance,” Amarachi whispered, her voice shaking.
For Amarachi, like many others, the event was meant to be a blessing. She had learned about the church’s palliative distribution from a neighbor in Mararaba.
Together with her son, she arrived at the venue around 5 a.m., hoping to leave with something to feed them for the week.
“It’s been tough. The cost of food is unbearable. Even a cup of rice has become a luxury for us,” she said, tears streaming down her face.
As the sun rose, so did the crowd’s desperation. Witnesses recounted how people fought for space, disregarding pleas from volunteers to keep order. In the chaos, Amarachi fell, and her son slipped from her arms.
“I thought I had lost Obinna. I screamed for help, but it felt like no one could hear me. A young man pulled me up, and I saw a woman holding my son. I will never forget her kindness,” she cried.
Amarachi and Obinna were among the lucky ones. Nearby, others weren’t as fortunate.
A 65-year-old widow from Mpape (name withheld) wasn’t able to escape the surge. Her neighbours later confirmed she had passed away, her frail body unable to withstand the stampede.
At the nearby Maitama General Hospital, survivors recounted their stories.
Terngu Nyam, 18, who had gone to collect food for his family, suffered a broken arm in the commotion.
“I just wanted to help my mother. We’ve been struggling to eat one meal a day. I didn’t think this would happen,” he said as he was discharged from the hospital.
READ ALSO: Economic Hardship: IGP Bans Unauthorized Distribution of Palliatives
For the victims and their families, the tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the desperation brought on by economic hardship.
While the church organized the event with good intentions, inadequate crowd management turned it into a nightmare.
At the time of this report, Mrs. Juliet Onwuemelie, coordinator of the St. Vincent de Paul Charity Society at the parish, was in custody at the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) for questioning and had no access to her phone.
A source at the FCID, identifying himself simply as Emmanuel, stated: “Onwuemelie mentioned that she wasn’t feeling well and had not yet arrived at the scene when other members of the group informed her about what had happened.”
“According to other parishioners, the church has departments that take care of welfare as well as security.
“The church security made efforts to control the mammoth crowd gathered outside the church premises, directing that they should enter in sets of 10 people
“But the people, out of desperation and hunger, couldn’t wait to enter in an orderly manner.
“The stampede was outside the church premises. She has declared her innocence in her statement.”
Report learned that the palliative distribution was organised simultaneously across Catholic parishes in the Abuja Archdiocese on Saturday by members of the St Vincent de Paul society.
Follow Parallel Facts on WhatsApp Channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaCQSAoHgZWiDjR3Kn2E
