32-year-old Amarachi Nwosu cannot shake the memory of the chaos that erupted on the Holy Trinity Catholic Church grounds earlier today.
Though she and her three-year-old son narrowly escaped with their lives, her mind is weighed down by the pressing uncertainty of where their next meal will come from.
Clutching her three-year-old son, Obinna, she recalls the desperate push of the crowd as thousands scrambled to receive palliatives.
“I didn’t even know what was happening. I just wanted to get food for my children. The next thing, I felt people pushing me, and I lost my balance,” Amarachi whispered, her voice trembling.
For Amarachi, like many others, the event was supposed to be a blessing. She had heard about the church’s palliative distribution from a neighbour in Mararaba.
Along with her son, she arrived at the venue around 5 a.m., hopeful that they would leave with something to eat for the week.
“It’s been hard. The cost of food is unbearable. Even a cup of rice is now a luxury for us,” she said, tears rolling down her cheeks.
As the sun rose, so did the crowd’s desperation. Witnesses described how people jostled for space, ignoring pleas from volunteers to maintain order. Amid the confusion, Amarachi fell, her son slipping from her grasp.
“I thought I had lost Obinna. I screamed for help, but it felt like no one could hear me. A young man pulled me up, and I saw a woman holding my son. I will never forget her kindness,” she cried.