Human rights lawyer Femi Falana has stated that the Nigerian Police Force should be held liable for the deaths of Nigerians during recent food stampedes in Oyo, Abuja, and Anambra States.
He made the statement on Friday while giving a public lecture in Akure, the state capital, in remembrance of the late former Governor of Ondo State, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.
The senior lawyer argued that the police had failed to carry out their constitutional obligations, resulting in the deaths and injuries, and termed the casualties as deplorable.
Falana urged the government to compensate families who had lost loved ones as a result of these failings.
He said, “The deaths of 115 Nigerians in recent incidents in Ibadan, Abuja, and Okija are unacceptable. The police failed to protect the people, and I hold them responsible. The government must compensate the families who lost their loved ones because of these failures.”
Falana also called on the Nigerian government to address social insecurity, which is evident in the rising levels of poverty, unemployment, hunger, and illiteracy in the country.
The lawyer mentioned that without social security, physical security—i.e., the safety of lives and property—cannot be guaranteed.
Chronicle NG reports that 35 children died at a holiday funfair in Ibadan, Oyo State. While 29 people were declared dead, and 32 others were injured at a palliative distribution event in Okija, Ihiala Local Government Area, Anambra State.
In the Abuja stampede, no fewer than 10 people were reportedly killed, and several others were injured at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama, Abuja, on the same day.
