The Nigerian Police Force has confirmed the deaths of 10 people during a rice and palliative distribution event at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama, Abuja.
According to FCT police spokesperson SP Josephine Adeh, most of the victims were women and children.
The tragic incident also left eight others injured, prompting investigations into the causes of the stampede.
The statement partly reads,“This tragic event, which happened at about 6:30 am, led to a stampede that claimed the lives of ten [10] individuals, including four [4] children, and left eight [8] others with varying degrees of injuries. Four [4] of the injured have been treated and discharged, while the remaining victims are receiving medical care.
“To prevent such unfortunate incidents in the future, the Command hereby directs that all organizations, religious bodies, groups, or individuals planning any public event, charitable activity, or large gathering in the FCT must notify the Police Command in advance. This will allow the deployment of adequate security measures to ensure public safety and prevent avoidable tragedies.