Spokesman of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command, Josephine Adeh, confirmed the incident in a statement on Saturday.
On Wednesday, 35 children were killed in a similar incident in Ibadan, Oyo state.
In the statement, the police urged members of the public to always adhere
strict adherence to event notification.
“The FCT Police Command deeply regrets to confirm the unfortunate incident that occurred at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Maitama, on Saturday, 21st December 2024, during the distribution of food items to vulnerable and elderly persons”, the statement reads.
“This tragic event, which happened at about 6:30 am, led to a stampede that claimed the lives of ten individuals, including four children, and left eight others with varying degrees of injuries. Four of the injured have been treated and discharged, while the remaining victims are receiving medical care.
“The FCT Police Command sympathises with the families of the deceased and wishes the injured a speedy recovery.
“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.
“Failure to comply with this directive will result in the organizers being held liable for any incident or loss of life resulting from their negligence.”
Adeh said the FCT Police Command remains committed to safeguarding lives and property and called on members of the public to collaborate with the police by adhering to guidelines and promptly reporting emergencies through the FCT Control Room via 0803 200 3913 or 0806 0321234″.
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