The police in the Federal Capital Territory have arrested some officials of the Catholic church in Abuja over the stampede that killed 10 people during the distribution of food items there at the weekend.
It was gathered on Wednesday morning that all those arrested had been taken into detention.
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 Anambra events would not be given similar treatment.
The Inspector general of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, had also ordered an investigation into the Abuja and Anambra tragic charity outreaches.
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 as “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.”
Archbishop Kaigama, who made his mind known in his message titled, “Christmas: A Season of Hope and Renewal”, said government officials should have focused on helping the organisers and the church to overcome their trauma instead of compounding it through arrest, detention and threat of criminal prosecution.
The spokeswoman of the FCT police command, SP Adeh Josephine, while replying to our reporter’s text message, said some key individuals involved in organising the distribution of palliatives who were invited for questioning were later allowed to go home.
She said the step was taken for a better understanding of the circumstances that led to the unfortunate stampede incident.
“An invitation regarding a tragedy of this magnitude is not out of place. We are addressing the loss of human lives, which, in religious and moral belief, are sacred,” she said.
The PPRO also said, “The allegations suggesting that we are attempting to demonize the church’s almsgiving or humanitarian efforts are entirely baseless and disappointing. Our actions are motivated solely by the need to uncover the truth and ensure accountability where necessary,” she said.
She added that “as our investigation progresses, it is possible that those who were previously invited may be called back for further questioning if deemed necessary. We remain committed to conducting a thorough and impartial inquiry into this matter.”
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