Human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) has attributed the deadly stampedes to "poverty-induced neoliberal economic policies" and "criminal negligence."
The incidents, which occurred during food and cash distribution events, have sparked national outrage and calls for justice.
Falana, who chairs the Alliance on Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond (ASCAB), released a statement on Sunday condemning the tragedies as a "national shame." He emphasized that the victims were not mere statistics but individuals driven to desperation by systemic poverty and the incompetence of those responsible for their safety.
The most recent stampedes took place on December 21, 2024. In Okija, Anambra State, 12 people lost their lives, and 32 others were injured in a chaotic scramble for rice distributed by a philanthropist. On the same day, a stampede at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama, Abuja, resulted in 10 fatalities, including children, as over 3,000 people jostled for palliatives. Earlier, on December 19, a Christmas funfair in Ibadan, Oyo State, turned tragic when 35 children were crushed to death at Islamic High School, Basorun.
Falana described the loss of these innocent lives as "heart-wrenching," highlighting the indignity imposed by poverty.
The pattern of such incidents is not new. In April 2024, nine people died in Sokoto during a palliative distribution at the residence of former governor Aliyu Wamakko. Similarly, in March 2024, seven people, including an eight-year-old girl, perished at a charity event in Bauchi where ₦5,000 cash gifts were being distributed.
These grim occurrences date back to May 22, 2022, when 30 people died in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, at a church charity event marred by overcrowding.
Falana criticized the elite for their treatment of the poor during such events, stating, "No member of the elite invites others to lunch by throwing the food," condemning what he termed "class prejudice" in humanitarian aid distribution. He announced plans to mobilize lawyers to pursue civil suits against the organizers of these events, ensuring survivors and families of the deceased receive adequate compensation.
The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) also issued a statement, signed by Executive Director Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, condemning the alarming state of hunger and desperation in Nigeria.
Rafsanjani described the incidents as "heartbreaking reflections of the severe hardship Nigerians are enduring," urging the government to adopt measures to address food insecurity, create jobs, and alleviate suffering.
The current economic hardship under President Bola Tinubu's administration, marked by surging inflation and poor governance, has exacerbated the crisis. Frustration over the cost-of-living crisis has led to mass protests, with at least 20 people shot dead and hundreds arrested in August.
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