A renowned Catholic Archbishop in Nigeria has decried the recent Deadly Stampede at Food Distribution noticed presently all over Nigeria. This recurrent stampede in various parts of the country spells a devastating blow on the present government in power.
One of the stampedes which is the first in the chain claimed the lives of ten people and left many injured during a food distribution event at Holy Trinity Maitama Catholic Parish of Nigeria’s Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja. This is “a devastating blow”, the Local Ordinary has cried out.
In a statement, Archbishop Ignatius Ayau Kaigama who is the immediate past President of all the Catholic Bishops in the West African Subregion under the aegis of RECOWA-CERAO weighs in on the December 21 rice distribution activity that St. Vincent de Paul Society organized to reach out to the less privileged during the Christmas Season.
“It is with profound shock and sadness that I, on behalf of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, mourn the tragic loss of lives and those injured at the St. Vincent de Paul Society’s food-sharing event at Holy Trinity Parish,” Archbishop Kaigama says in his December 21 statement.
He adds, “The St. Vincent de Paul Society’s selfless efforts to support the poor and vulnerable in our midst are a testament to the Catholic Church’s commitment to serving the least among us.”
“This great tragedy, which claimed the lives of over ten people is a devastating blow to our community,” Archbishop Kaigama says about the tragic incident that had children among the dead and injured persons.
In his statement, the Nigerian Catholic Archbishop extends his “heartfelt condolences to the families and loved ones of the deceased and injured.”
“May God grant them the strength and comfort they need during this difficult time,” Archbishop Kaigama says, and urges members of Christian communities to find solace in faith and solidarity.
“Let us come together as a community to pray for the souls of the departed, for the healing of the injured, and for the consolation of all those affected by this tragedy,” he says, and invites the people of God to join him in “praying for the eternal repose of the souls of the faithful departed and the healing of the injured.”
In an interview with ACI Africa following the December 21 tragic stampede made available to RECOWACERAO NEWS AGENCY, RECONA, the President of St. Vincent de Paul of Holy Trinity Catholic Parish, Barrister Joy Ohiagu, attributed the stampede to the level of hunger in the West African nation.
“There’s hunger in the land. More than 80% of people coming here are from Nasarawa, not even Abuja. Some of them slept over just to get food. It’s not just happening in Nigeria; this kind of desperation is everywhere,” Barrister Joy told the media.
She emphasized that the Church had sufficient food to distribute and encouraged transparency in documenting the event. “Take pictures so people know there is more than enough. The desperation must have come from the psyche of the people and the hunger going on,” Barrister Joy said.
The Nigerian official of St. Vincent de Paul went on to fault Nigeria’s government for not doing enough to address the worsening hunger crisis.
“The government needs to do more. The Church is bearing most of the burden. We have an organized avenue for distributing aid, but the government should also step in to support us. This is not just about Christians – we have Muslims and people of all backgrounds here. It’s open to everyone,” she said.
The December 21 stampede, Barrister Joy continued, “is a stark reminder of the growing inequality and hunger plaguing the country. While the church and charitable organizations like St. Vincent de Paul continue to provide lifelines, the burden is becoming unsustainable without significant government intervention.”
Barrister Joy reaffirmed St. Vincent de Paul’s commitment to serving the needy despite the tragedy. She said, “We’ve been beaten, but we will not stop. ”The government should use the Church as a channel to reach the people because we are already on the ground,” St. Vincent de Paul told ACI Africa.
Members of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) have also extended their condolences to the Catholic Church and the families of the bereaved.
“This tragedy is not just about numbers; it is about real families who are grieving the loss of their loved ones. We stand in solidarity with the Catholic Church and all those impacted by this heartbreaking incident,” CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh of Christ Holy Church International, an African Independent Church, says.
Archbishop Okoh adds, “We must come together with kindness and work towards a future where every life is valued, and gatherings for support are free from tragedy.”
“Let us honor the memories of those we have lost by building a nation prioritizing safety and care for its citizens,” the Nigerian church leader says.
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