Stampedes in Nigeria leave at least 32 dead in rush to get Christmas gifts
Abuja, Dec 22: The death toll from stampedes during two Christmas charity events in Nigeria has increased from 13 to 32, police said Sunday. The victims, including at least four children, collapsed during crowd surges as people grew desperate for food items while the country grapples with the worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation.
The dead included 22 people in southeastern Anambra state's Okija town, where a philanthropist on Saturday organised a food distribution, local police spokesman Tochukwu Ikenga said. Ten others died in the capital, Abuja, during a church-organised similar charity event.
Police said they were investigating the two incidents, only days after another stampede in which several children were killed.
Africa's most populous country is seeing a growing trend by local organisations, churches and individuals to organise charity events ahead of Christmas to ease economic hardship caused by a cost-of-living crisis.
Witnesses of the Abuja stampede told The Associated Press there was a crowd surge at one of the church gates, as dozens tried to enter the premises at around 4 am, hours before gift items were to be shared.
Some of them, including older people, waited overnight to get food, said Loveth Inyang, who rescued one baby from the crush.
The stampedes prompted growing calls for authorities to enforce safety measures at such events. Nigerian police also mandated that organisers obtain prior permission.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
CT Ravi warns of 'Belagavi Chalo Movement' if inaction on attempted murder complaint
Chikkamagaluru: Former Karnataka Minister and BJP MLC CT Ravi has accused the state Congress government of selective justice and threatened to launch a "Belagavi Chalo" movement if no action is taken against those who allegedly attempted to assassinate him.
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Ravi alleged that the state government, led by Congress, operates on the "Hammurabi doctrine" rather than adhering to the Constitution. He criticized the swift police response to a complaint filed against him by Minister Lakshmi Hebbalkar while claiming inaction on his own complaint regarding an alleged assassination attempt.
"Does the CM believe I don’t have the right to seek justice under the law? Should I also send goons to get justice?" Ravi questioned. He demanded a judicial investigation into the incident to uncover the truth.
Ravi alleged that he was detained and taken to "mysterious places" by Karnataka State Police, who acted on instructions from undisclosed sources. "I told them to record the calls they received during this operation," he added.
He stated his intent to pursue legal recourse, file complaints with the Human Rights Commission, and ensure those involved in the alleged murder attempt are held accountable. "An FIR has not been filed yet on my complaint. If action isn’t taken, we will launch the Belagavi Chalo movement," Ravi warned.
