The Abuja Police Command has arrested the parish priest and other officials of the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Abuja over their roles in a fatal stampede.
It will be recalled that the stampede happened on Saturday and it resulted in the loss of lives of about 10 people during the distribution of groceries to the less privileged at the Abuja church car park.
The arrest was made on Wednesday after both the Catholic priest and the police confirmed the event. The Police also confirmed that they were investigating the stampede in Abuja as well as two others in Anambra and Oyo.
In a Christmas greetings from the Catholic Archbishop of the Abuja Diocese, Mr Ignatius Kaigama, there the arrest was mentioned and condemned.
“Christmas: A Season of Hope and Renewal,” the Catholic Archbishop of Abuja Diocese, Ignatius Kaigama, announced and condemned the arrest of the church officials, saying it is counterproductive and lacking empathy.
“It is, to say the least, uninspiring, unfriendly, and a misplaced zeal. One wonders what purpose these arrests were meant to serve,” Mr Kaigama said.
He urged authorities to assist the church and organisers in recovering from the trauma rather than threatening prosecution.The police however, through their spokesperson, Josephine Adeg, condemned the negligence of the organisers
“How can you organise an event of that magnitude without notifying the police? Ten lives, including children, were lost, and many others were injured. Doesn’t this warrant arrest?” she said.
Some witnesses of the Abuja incident explained that there was a crowd surge at one of the church’s gates as dozens tried to enter the premises around 4 a.m., hours before gift items were to be shared.
The police however, through their spokesperson, Josephine Adeg, condemned the negligence of the organisers.
“How can you organise an event of that magnitude without notifying the police? Ten lives, including children, were lost, and many others were injured. Doesn’t this warrant arrest?” she said.
Some witnesses of the Abuja incident explained that there was a crowd surge at one of the church’s gates as dozens tried to enter the premises around 4 a.m., hours before gift items were to be shared.
