The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has strongly rebuked a recent statement by the Catholic Archbishop of Abuja Diocese, Most Rev. Ignatius Kaigama, regarding the tragic stampede at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama, Abuja. The stampede, which occurred during a palliative distribution event, claimed the lives of ten individuals and left several others injured, including children.
The police’s response followed Kaigama’s assertion that their actions were aimed at tarnishing the Church’s humanitarian efforts, particularly its almsgiving initiatives. In a statement issued on Wednesday, the FCT Police described the archbishop’s comments as “baseless” and “disappointing.”
The deadly incident unfolded when a large crowd gathered at Holy Trinity Catholic Church for a distribution of palliative items. According to eyewitnesses, the situation quickly escalated into chaos as the crowd surged uncontrollably, leading to the deaths of ten people. Among the injured were eight individuals, with some suffering severe injuries. The tragedy sparked widespread public outrage and concern about the safety and organization of charitable events in the country.
In the aftermath of the stampede, the police launched an investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident. Key individuals, including the priest in charge of the church, were invited by the police for questioning. Contrary to what was implied by Kaigama’s remarks, police clarified that no arrests had been made. Instead, they were simply invited to assist in the ongoing investigation.
The FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, responded directly to Kaigama’s claims. She expressed disappointment at the archbishop’s insinuation that the police were targeting the Church’s charitable activities.
“The allegation that we are attempting to demonize the Church’s humanitarian efforts is entirely unfounded,” Adeh remarked. “Our primary concern is to investigate the tragic loss of lives. We are working to understand what went wrong and ensure accountability, not to discredit the Church’s almsgiving initiatives.”
SP Adeh further explained that the police’s actions were purely investigative, aimed at understanding how the tragedy unfolded. “In cases involving such significant loss of life, it is standard procedure to invite key figures for questioning,” she said. “This is a necessary step to uncover the truth and to prevent further tragedies in the future.”
Rev. Ignatius Kaigama, in his initial comments, defended the Church’s longstanding role in alleviating poverty and providing support to the most vulnerable in society. He emphasized that the Church’s palliative distributions were intended to help the less privileged, especially amid the economic challenges facing many Nigerians.
The archbishop expressed concerns that the police’s investigation was an attempt to tarnish the Church’s reputation for humanitarian work. “The Church is dedicated to helping those in need, and we are saddened that such a tragic event would be used as an excuse to question our motives,” Kaigama said.
However, police sources clarified that their investigation was not intended to challenge the legitimacy of the Church’s charitable activities, but rather to address the safety measures—or lack thereof—that led to the fatal stampede. In a country with a history of chaotic public gatherings, the police stressed the need for organizations, both religious and non-religious, to adhere to proper crowd control protocols to prevent such incidents from happening again.
The tragic events in Maitama have reignited a broader conversation about the safety of public events, particularly those involving large crowds. Experts have pointed to the lack of adequate planning and crowd management strategies as factors that often contribute to disasters at such events.
“While the Church’s intentions are noble, it is critical for organizers to consider safety as a top priority,” said Chukwuma Ibe, a crowd control specialist based in Abuja. “It is not enough to simply gather people in large numbers without ensuring their safety. That is why investigations like this are necessary—to hold individuals and organizations accountable for their role in such tragedies.”
As the investigation continues, police officials have assured the public that the inquiry will be thorough and impartial. “We are committed to uncovering the full facts of the incident,” SP Adeh stated. “Our goal is to ensure that such a tragedy never happens again, and that all those involved are held to account.”
In response to the public outcry, the Church has promised to cooperate fully with the police and to review its event management processes. In a statement released by the Church on Tuesday, officials expressed deep regret over the loss of life and pledged to implement stricter crowd control measures for future events.
“We are heartbroken over this tragedy,” Kaigama remarked in the statement. “We extend our condolences to the families of the victims and will do everything in our power to prevent such an incident from happening again.”
