The police in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have arrested several officials from the Catholic Church in Abuja in connection with a tragic stampede that occurred during a food distribution event over the weekend, which resulted in the deaths of 10 people.
According to Daily Trust, the individuals arrested on Monday morning have been taken into police custody. This action follows calls by the Islamic activist group Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), which has demanded the arrest of those responsible for organizing similar events that led to fatalities, including the Abuja incident and another in Okija, Anambra State, where 22 people were confirmed dead at a billionaire businessman’s residence.
MURIC also raised concerns over the treatment of those involved in a similar charity event in Ibadan, Oyo State, where the organisers were taken to court and remanded in prison custody. They called for equal treatment of those responsible for the Abuja and Anambra events.
In response to the arrest of the church officials, Most Rev. Ignatius Kaigama, the Catholic Archbishop of Abuja Diocese, condemned what he referred to as the “verbal demonization of the Catholic Church” by some government representatives following the tragedy at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama. Kaigama criticized the detention of the priest and church officials, as well as the threat of criminal charges, calling it “uninspiring, unfriendly, and a misplaced zeal.” He questioned the purpose of these actions, urging the government to focus on supporting the church and its officials in dealing with the trauma caused by the incident, rather than exacerbating it through arrest and prosecution.
In a Christmas message titled “Christmas: A Season of Hope and Renewal,” Kaigama emphasized that the government should work with the church to overcome the tragedy, rather than engaging in punitive measures.
SP Adeh Josephine, the spokeswoman for the FCT police command, clarified in a statement that key individuals involved in organizing the food distribution had been invited for questioning but were later allowed to return home. She explained that the police’s actions were intended to understand the full circumstances surrounding the stampede, stressing that an investigation into such a tragic event was necessary, especially given the loss of human lives, which are considered sacred in both religious and moral beliefs.
