The Citizens Advocacy for Social & Economic Rights (CASER) has demanded that the Nigerian government provide compensation of not less than N100 million to each family of the victims who lost their lives in the recent stampedes during palliative distributions in Oyo, Anambra states, and Abuja.
The organization has also threatened to take legal action if the government fails to take responsibility for the tragic incidents.
According to Frank Tietie, Executive Director of CASER in a statement on Tuesday,
“We maintain to the contrary, with tremendous respect to the President, that it is not the responsibility of religious organisations and public-spirited individuals to provide public order, safety, and security after they announce that they are sharing food with members of the public.”
Tietie emphasized that the responsibility for public safety during such events lies with government agencies, not the organizers.
The recent stampedes, which claimed multiple lives, have sparked widespread outrage and condemnation. President Bola Tinubu has attributed the incidents to indiscipline and poor organization, stating
“It is very sad that people are not well organised. We just have to be more disciplined in our society, condolences to those who lost a family member.”
However, CASER has strongly contested the President’s position, arguing that the government has a duty to ensure the safety and security of its citizens, particularly during times of economic hardship.
The organization has emphasized that the right to food access is fundamental and that recent government policies have worsened economic hardship.
“The Nigerian government must be reminded that, according to existing legal provisions, every Nigerian has the right to food, which also includes the right to access food,” Tietie stated.
CASER has threatened to activate both national and international legal mechanisms to compel the Nigerian government to act responsibly and provide adequate compensation to the victims’ families.
In a related development, three key figures connected to the school stampede that claimed 35 young lives in Ibadan have been remanded at Agodi Correctional Center.
Chief Magistrate Olabisi Ogunkanmi ordered the detention of Abdullahi Fasasi, the school’s principal; Alhaji Oriyomi Hamzat of Agidigbo FM; and Naomi Silekunola, facing charges under Section 324 of the Criminal Code.
The Inspector General of Police has directed organizers of similar charity works to coordinate with security agencies and adhere to crowd management protocols to prevent future tragedies.
Meanwhile, Southern governors, led by Forum Chairman and Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, have paid a condolence visit to Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, advising future charitable events to coordinate with government authorities to prevent such incidents.
