…Exercise Witnessed Unprecedented Turnout of About 5,000 Indigents
by P. J Usanga
The Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Most Rev. Ignatius Ayau Kaigama, has clarified that the December 21st, 2024 stampede that occurred during the annual Christmas food-sharing exercise at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Maitama, was not a result of negligence on the part of the church.
The Archbishop emphasized that the church took immediate action following the incident, halting the distribution of items, transporting the deceased to the mortuary, providing medical care to the injured, and issuing a letter to commiserate with the affected families. He also commended the members of the St. Vincent de Paul Society, who have been championing the cause of the poor, describing them as “heroes and heroines of 2024.”
The homilist called for collaboration between the government and the church in addressing poverty and catering to the needs of the vulnerable. “We should be speaking the language of collaboration rather than blame,” he stated. “The Church has always been a place of refuge and support, and we need to work with the concerned government agencies to address the underlying issues that led to this sad event.”
Archbishop Kaigama also expressed hope that the government would collaborate with the church to provide support for the poor and needy, citing examples of countries such as Germany, the US, the UK, Ireland, and others that empower the Catholic Church and other faith-based organizations to assist the poor.
The Prelate urged individuals to remember the poor and needy, emphasizing that “poverty robs people of their dignity, and our individual actions and political decisions must be geared towards the good of the poor.” He prayed that 2025 would bring Nigeria closer to peace and prosperity.
In his welcome remarks, the Parish Priest of Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Maitama, Rev. Fr. Moses Jimbili, expressed sadness over the incident, stating, “We are saddened by the stampede of December 21st that led to the death of 10 people and injuries to many others.” He prayed that the memorial Mass would bring consolation to the families of the victims and all those gathered for prayers.
The Head of Service of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mrs. Grace Adayilo, who represented the Honorable Minister of FCT, Barr. Nyesom Wike, described the incident as “of great concern” and encouraged the church to continue its good work. “The devil attacks what is good, but we will not give the devil that opportunity,” she said. “We should continue to do good work, better and stronger.” She promised strong collaboration between the FCT administration and the church in supporting the poor and vulnerable in the FCT.
The Mass, which took place at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Maitama, on Sunday, January 12, 2025, was attended by the deans of the various deaneries across the Archdiocese, clergy and religious members, laity, and dignitaries from the state.