Four people lost their lives during a stampede following the distribution of Ramadan alms at Kofar-Guga quarters in Katsina State. Charity is a noble intention. However, in a country where many citizens still struggle with poverty, kind deeds to hundreds or more individuals at once must be properly organised to prevent fatalities.
According to the Katsina State Police Command, the February 26, 2026, tragedy occurred at about 9:00 p.m., when a large crowd gathered at the residence of a philanthropist distributing yearly Ramadan alms. In the ensuing chaos, several people were injured. Four of them later died.
In recent years, Nigeria has seen a string of such tragedies, where gatherings meant to distribute food, money, or other aid to the poor ended in deadly stampedes. One such incident occurred in May 2022. At a church event in Port Harcourt, where free food and gifts were to be shared, 31 people died while seven others were injured. Many of those who attended had gathered overnight, waiting for the venue to open. In March 2024, not fewer than four people died during a Zakat distribution in Bauchi State. A month later, in Sokoto State, nine people were killed and 30 others injured during a charity exercise linked to a political figure. In Lagos, the same year, seven people died in a stampede while trying to purchase subsidised rice offered by the Nigeria Customs Service.
Then came the tragedies towards the end of 2024. On December 18 in Ibadan, no fewer than 35 children died during a Christmas funfair where cash gifts and food items had been promised. Just three days later, about a dozen people died in Okija, Anambra State, during a food distribution organised by a philanthropist. On the same day in Abuja, 10 people, including four children, were killed during a charity event at a church where food items and gifts were being shared.
With the Katsina incident joining the disturbing list, it is clear that lessons have yet to be learned about why acts of kindness should be carried out in ways that do not result in loss of life. The locations and organisers have changed over the years. The pattern, however, has not: large crowds, poor planning, desperation, and tragedy. According to reports, no fewer than 213 Nigerians died in stampedes between 2013 and 2024. Of that number, 96 deaths occurred in 2024 alone, spread across seven food-related stampedes.
Rising inflation, high food prices, and unemployment have worsened the situation. Many who had been trying to survive these harsh economic conditions have been hit even harder by a recent rise in fuel prices due to current unease in the Middle East. Under such circumstances, promises of free food, small cash assistance, or subsidised goods attract enormous crowds. Amid great expectations for urgent relief, people gather in confined spaces where, without proper organisation, chaos easily follows.
Giving, particularly during Ramadan, is rooted in Islamic teaching, and the record of tragedies that have attended such gestures should not de-emphasise the importance of charity. The Qur’an repeatedly reminds believers of their responsibility towards the poor and vulnerable. “Indeed, those who believe and do righteous deeds and establish prayer and give zakah will have their reward with their Lord,” states Surah Al-Baqarah (2:277). Another verse in the same chapter (2:261) compares charity to a seed that grows into many grains.
These teachings urge the faithful to be compassionate and generous. However, charity loses its purpose when it is carried out in ways that expose vulnerable people to danger. Poor people deserve dignity and should not have to risk their lives to receive help. In several of these incidents, the victims have included children, elderly persons, pregnant women and nursing mothers — people who should be protected, not placed in situations where they could be crushed in a crowd.
Another troubling feature of these incidents is that many of them occur during religious or festive seasons. Poverty does not appear only during Ramadan or Christmas, nor do hunger and hardship disappear when the festive season ends. For millions of Nigerians, the struggle to feed their families is a bitter reality that continues throughout the year. Seasonal charity might provide momentary relief, but the responsibility for addressing the root problem that sends hapless citizens rushing to their deaths for assistance lies largely with the government.
Philanthropists, religious institutions, and community groups may assist the poor. But charity will never replace sound economic policies. A government that has its citizens’ interests at heart must invest in education and skills so that young people can earn a living. It must provide social safety nets for those who are unable to support themselves. It must also support small businesses and local enterprises that generate jobs. When people have stable incomes and economic security, they will not need to gather in large crowds for charity.
Organisers of charitable distributions must rethink their approach, matching good intentions with careful planning. Large public distributions should be coordinated with security agencies and local authorities. Adequate crowd-control measures must be put in place, with distribution systems structured to prevent overcrowding. The advice by the Katsina State Police Command that organisers should notify the police before distributing alms is therefore sensible, as such coordination can help ensure order and reduce the risk of chaos.
Modern technology should also be allowed to breathe new life into old ways of assisting. Distributions can be made through organised registration, vouchers, community centres, or electronic transfers rather than open gatherings that attract uncontrolled crowds. What matters is ensuring that help reaches those who need it without putting them in harm’s way.
The Katsina tragedy is another wake-up call. Charity is a welcome gesture across all humanity. But the path to receiving it need not be perilous. No Nigerian should die while trying to receive alms.
Preventing future tragedies will require organisers of charitable activities to be more responsible, while the Federal Government ensures it reduces poverty to the barest minimum through policies that create opportunity, reduce inequality, and restore dignity to the lives of ordinary citizens. Until that happens, the risk remains that future acts of charity, however well-intended, could still end in tragedy.
END
Be the first to comment