Police arrests Abuja Catholic priest, church officials over palliative stampede deaths
A sombre Christmas dawned for the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama, Abuja, as a senior Catholic priest and several church officials were arrested following a devastating stampede that claimed 10 lives during a charity event meant to spread goodwill.
The tragedy unfolded during the distribution of palliatives to the needy, but what was intended as an act of generosity spiraled into chaos, leaving families mourning instead of celebrating. Security agents detained the church’s key organisers, casting a shadow over Christmas as they face the possibility of spending the season behind bars.
The arrests came against the background of demands by the Islamic activist group, Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), for the arrest of those behind the event and a similar one in Okija, Anambra State, where 22 persons were confirmed dead in a billionaire businessman’s house.
MURIC had demanded that organisers of a similar tragic charity event in Ibadan, Oyo State, who were taken to court and remanded in prison custody, should be released if those of the Abuja and Anamnra events would not be given similar treatment.
Inspector general of Police, Dr. Kayode Egbetokun, had also ordered an investigation into the Abuja and Anambra tragic charity outreaches.
READ ALSO: Ibadan Stampede: Court sends former queen, two others to prison
Reacting to the arrest and detention of his church officials, the Catholic Archbishop of Abuja Diocese, Most Rev Ignatius Kaigama, last night condemned what he described “verbal demonization of the Catholic Church” by some agents of government in responding to the tragedy at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama.
According to Kaigama, the detention of the priest as well as some officials of the church and the threat to slam criminal charges on the church “is to say the least, uninspiring, unfriendly and a misplaced zeal, and one wonders what purpose these were meant to serve.”
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