The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) police have detained several officials of a Catholic church in Abuja following a stampede that claimed 10 lives during a food distribution event over the weekend.
According to reports, those arrested on Monday morning are being held for questioning. The arrests follow demands by the Islamic group, Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), for accountability. MURIC also referenced a similar tragedy in Okija, Anambra State, where 22 people lost their lives at a charity event organized by a billionaire.
MURIC’s Position
MURIC insisted that organizers of a previous charity event in Ibadan, Oyo State—where a stampede also occurred and individuals were remanded in prison custody—should be released if those responsible for the Abuja and Anambra incidents are not given similar treatment.
Church’s Response
Reacting to the arrests, the Catholic Archbishop of Abuja Diocese, Most Rev. Ignatius Kaigama, expressed disappointment over what he termed the “verbal demonization of the Catholic Church” by some government agents in response to the tragedy at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Maitama.
Kaigama condemned the detention of the priest and church officials, as well as the threat of criminal charges. He stated, “This approach is, to say the least, uninspiring, unfriendly, and a misplaced zeal. One wonders what purpose it is meant to serve.”
In his Christmas message titled “Christmas: A Season of Hope and Renewal,” the Archbishop urged the government to support the church in recovering from the trauma instead of exacerbating it through arrests and threats of prosecution.
Police Clarification
FCT police spokesperson SP Adeh Josephine clarified that the individuals involved in organizing the event were invited for questioning to understand the circumstances leading to the tragic stampede.
“An invitation regarding a tragedy of this magnitude is not out of place. We are addressing the loss of human lives, which, in religious and moral belief, are sacred,” she said. She further revealed that those invited had since been allowed to return home.
Efforts to investigate the incident and prevent future occurrences are ongoing.
