Let’s Speak “language of collaboration rather than blame”: Catholic Archbishop in Nigeria on Ending Hunger, Saving Lives

He added, “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.”

The Nigerian Catholic Archbishop underscored the support that the Catholic Church in Nigeria receives from countries such as Germany, the U.S., UK, and Ireland to provide for the poor, and added, “Our Government must do all that is possible so that no one dies of hunger or other artificial causes.”

“Nigeria must learn to use available resources without corruption to save the lives of citizens even if it is one person,” the Local Ordinary of Abuja since November 2019 said.

Referring to the 21 December 2024 incident, he said, “Poverty robs people of their dignity. Our individual actions and political decisions must be geared towards the good of the poor. May 2025 move Nigeria closer to peace and prosperity.”

Archbishop Kaigama went on to laud parishioners of Holy Trinity Maitama for providing food and other basic needs to the poor and hungry, a gesture he said spanned decades.

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“Your inspiration to serve the poor and the vulnerable comes from St. Vincent de Paul, who initiated in 1833, your society which cares for the poor and the needy in an admirable manner,” he said, and added, “No wonder, every Sunday at church entrances in many parishes, your members stand with their iron boxes clanging them to call attention saying, “Help the poor,” “Help the poor.”

Archbishop Kaigama said the unfortunate 21 December 2024 stampede was a result of “empathy”, and not of negligence.

He explained that previous years of food distribution in the Archdiocese had taken place seamlessly. The distribution at Holy Trinity Maitama in 2024, however, witnessed “an unprecedented turnout,” Archbishop Kaigama said, noting that about 5,000 people turned up for aid owing to what he described as “heightened economic hardship affecting many families in the country.” 

According to Archbishop Kaigama, the large crowd outside the church premises created pressure and panic, a situation he said led to a struggle as individuals scrambled to gain entry through the church gate, which resulted in the fatalities and injuries.

“No one should be allowed to die a needless death just struggling for what to eat,” the Catholic Church leader, who started his Episcopal Ministry in April 1995 as Bishop of Nigeria’s Jalingo Catholic Diocese asserted.

Following the stampede, Holy Trinity Maitama Catholic Parish halted the food distribution to prevent further chaos and transported the deceased to the mortuary.

Injured individuals were provided medical care, Archbishop Kaigama said in his January 12 homily, highlighting the measures the Catholic Parish took in the aftermath of the incident.

Additionally, the Archdiocese of Abuja issued a letter to commiserate with the affected families, praying for the eternal repose of those who lost their lives and healing for the injured.

“Those families affected have been visited to express our condolences and to assure them of our spiritual and moral support, and our continued closeness,” the Local Ordinary of Abuja said during Holy Mass in honour of the victims of the stampede during the food distribution exercise at Holy Trinity Maitama Catholic Parish.