Deadly stampedes across Nigeria expose critical flaws in event management, socioeconomic structures

In a span of just one week, Nigeria experienced three tragic stampedes, collectively claiming over 50 lives and leaving dozens more injured.

These disasters, occurring during a children’s funfair in Ibadan, a charity event in Abuja, and a palliative distribution in Okija, shine a harsh light on the deep-rooted failures in event management, poverty alleviation, and institutional oversight.

The first calamity unfolded at the Islamic High School in Orita Bashorun, Ibadan, during a children’s funfair. In an attempt to boost attendance, the event organizers reduced entry fees and allowed some attendees to enter for free.

This decision, while seemingly harmless, triggered an overwhelming rush, with crowd control measures completely failing to prevent disaster. The result was a deadly stampede, claiming the lives of at least 35 children and injuring many others.

In Okija, Anambra State, another devastating scene played out at a palliative distribution event hosted by philanthropist Chief Ernest Obiejesi. The event, intended to offer essential items like rice, vegetable oil, and money to the community, became a horrific spectacle when the crowd surged uncontrollably.

Many women and children were crushed in the chaos, and scattered personal items left behind in the aftermath spoke to the desperation that led to the tragedy.

A third tragedy struck in Abuja, at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church during a charity food distribution. Here, at least ten lives were lost, including four children, as the crowd surged forward in an attempt to access food meant for those in need.

Like the other two incidents, the lack of proper planning and safety measures turned what should have been a simple act of charity into a catastrophic event.

READ ALSO: Tinubu cancels scheduled events in honour of victims of stampede

Experts argue that these stampedes are not isolated incidents but reflect larger systemic issues.

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Ogungbile Emmanuel Oludotun, a public safety analyst, pointed out that such tragedies are not unique to Nigeria. “Similar incidents, like the Nzérékoré Stampede in Guinea and the Hathras funeral stampede in India, show the same troubling patterns—poor planning, lack of crowd control, and public desperation,” he said.

Oludotun emphasized that Nigeria needs to adopt stronger regulations for public events, akin to the UK’s Martyn’s Law, which mandates safety protocols for gatherings.

He suggested that technological solutions, such as mobile ticketing and pre-registration platforms, could help control attendance and reduce overcrowding.

He also highlighted the importance of public education in preventing panic-driven disasters, drawing inspiration from South Korea’s efforts after the Seoul Halloween crush.

However, Oludotun stressed that addressing the root causes of these tragedies—deep-seated poverty and inequality—must be a priority. “Until we address these systemic issues, economic desperation will continue to drive people to risk their lives for basic necessities,” he said.

These events illustrate the deadly consequences of insufficient planning and the severe socioeconomic divides in Nigerian society. Until meaningful reforms are made to both event management practices and the country’s broader economic structures, more lives will be at risk in future gatherings.