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Stampede: Police confirm 22 dead in Anambra as FG, Omokri caution against politicising incidents

The federal government Sunday cautioned against the poiliticisation of the incidents of stampede across the country, saying it has no link whatsoever with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s reforms.

Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris said this in a statement by his media aide, Rabiu Ibrahim.

On Saturday in Okija, Anambra state, a Christmas palliative distribution turned tragic with 22 persons losing their lives, with several others injured in an early morning stampede.

The same day in Abuja, another tragedy struck when 10 persons died during an annual Christmas food-sharing event at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Maitama.

Prior to these, there was a stampede Wednesday at the Islamic High School, Basorun, Ibadan, Oyo state, where several children lost their lives and others sustained injuries during a holiday fanfare.

And in a tweet on his X handle, the former Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the last 2023 elections, Mr Peter Obi, condemned the Ibadan tragedy, describing it as a reflection of the nation’s systemic failure. 

 …FG cautions

But cautioning against such comments, the federal government said the development should not be politicised.

He said the government deeply sympathised with the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives in the tragic stampedes.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families, and all those affected by these unfortunate incidents,” he said. 

Describing the tragedies as deeply saddening, the statement said the development underscored the importance of ensuring proper crowd management during such charitable activities, especially during the festive season.

While acknowledging the noble intentions of organisers seeking to bring relief to vulnerable members of the society, Idris “strongly admonishes all individuals and organizations planning similar events to comply with the directive of the Inspector General of Police, Mr.  Kayode Egbetokun on liaising with the police formations for effective crowd control and security measures.”

He emphasided that collaboration with the police and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) is crucial to safeguarding lives and ensuring that such efforts to assist those in need do not inadvertently lead to further distress.

Furthermore, the minister appealed to politicians and other stakeholders “to refrain from politicising the unfortunate incidents,” stressing that those tragic events were in no way connected to the present administration’s reforms.  

“It is worth noting that similar unfortunate occurrences have been recorded in the past, before the current administration, as such, making any attempt to link these tragedies to the President’s reforms is unfounded and disingenuous.”  

Idris said the reforms, while repositioning the Nigerian economy for sustainable growth, were designed to uplift the lives of all Nigerians, particularly the vulnerable without causing distress.

The minister, therefore, called for a collective sense of responsibility and urged citizens to unite and ensure that the Yuletide season is marked by peace, goodwill, and joy, devoid of preventable tragedies.

…Omokri

Similarly, a former presidential aide, Mr Reno Omokri, also said politicising the tragedies would amount to mocking the victims.

In a statement Sunday, Omokri said: “The devastating news of innocent children reportedly trampled to death during a Christmas celebration in Ibadan is both heart-wrenching and a stark reflection of the systemic failures that plague our nation today.”

He said the tragedy called for deep reflection and decisive actions by leaders to prioritise policies that address poverty, inequality, and equitable resource access while ensuring the highest safety standards for public events, especially those involving children.

Omokri, also on his X handle, accused Obi of being insensitive to the victims’ plight. 

He said rather than seeking to reap political benefits from the tragedy, the LP presidential candidate should have empathised with the people who lost their loved ones.

“One would have expected Mr Peter Obi to have condoled with the families and moved on,” he said.

The former presidential aide said the Labour Party’s erstwhile flagbearer’s attempt to blame the federal government for the stampede was hypocritical because the occurrence was a global phenomenon, pointing out that it occurred recently in the US, South Korea, Israel and multiple European countries.

Besides, he recalled that under Obi’s watch as governor of Anambra state, a similar event happened on November 3, 2013, during which 28 persons died.

“Funny enough, Peter Obi himself was at the scene of the incident and was accused by survivors of triggering the stampede,” Omokri stated.

He said: “It is hypocritical for a man under whom these events occurred to now use the Ibadan tragedy to stigmatise the Tinubu administration. Genuine opposition politics involves providing alternative solutions to issues. It is an abuse of the idea of opposition to lazily sit and wait for tragedies to occur and then seek to profit from them. That is wickedness, not politics.”

Omokri queried the moral basis of Obi’s persistent criticism of the Tinubu administration, pointing out that the former governor underperformed during his stint in Anambra state.

“This is sad coming from a man under whom, as Governor of Anambra State, poverty almost doubled, as revealed by his immediate successor, Mr Willie Obiano, and the incumbent Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo. 

“Before Peter Obi took over as Governor of Anambra, poverty in that state was 41.4%. However, under Mr. Obi, it grew to 53.7%, partly because Peter Obi refused to use the state’s allocations to build infrastructure, preferring to deposit them in his bank to yield interest that went into his pockets. 

“In his eight years as Governor, Mr. Obi did not initiate, start, complete, or commission even one nursery, primary, secondary school, or university.”

Shortly after Omokri’s severe criticism, Obi deleted his tweet.

The former aide to President Goodluck Jonathan commiserated with the victims of the tragedies and called on state governments to learn lessons from the frequent events and implement better crowd control mechanisms.

…Shettima assures FG’s support

Meanwhile, Vice-President Kashim Shettima has  assured of the  federal government’s support for  families of stampede victims across the country.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quoted Shettima as saying this Sunday in Abuja in a statement conveying the government’s condolence messages to families of the victims.

Shettima expressed sorrow over the losses and offered prayers and condolences to the affected families.

The Vice-President, who described the incidents as a national tragedy, revealed that the federal government had directed relevant agencies to provide immediate support to affected families.

“I am extremely saddened by these tragic incidents that have claimed innocent lives.

“My prayers and thoughts are with the grieving families of all victims, including those who sustained injuries and are undergoing treatment.

“I am particularly distraught by the fact that so many lives of Nigerians, particularly children, have been lost in stampedes that ought to have been avoided through proper planning and organisation,” he said.

Shettima stated that the loss of lives was not for individual states but for the entire nation.

“May the Almighty God grant eternal rest to the souls of the departed. We stand ready to support the bereaved families through this difficult period, and no effort will be spared in providing the necessary assistance they need.

“To those currently receiving treatment in various hospitals, their recovery is our priority, and we will stand with them through this challenging time,” said Shettima.

…Police confirm 22 dead in Anambra

In a related development, the police in Anambra state have said 22 people were killed Saturday during the stampede in the state.

Police spokesperson in the state, Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed this in a statement Sunday morning by Premium Times.

Commissioner of Police Nnaghe Obono was said to have confirmed the casualty figure when he visited the hospital where the victims were taken to.

Obono, according to the statement, also said other people were injured during the stampede, but did not give details.

The police chief commiserated with the families and friends of the deceased and wished those injured a quick recovery.

He said investigation into the “unfortunate incident” was still ongoing.

“The Police Command remains dedicated to ensuring the safety and well-being of Ndi Anambra on crime prevention, responding promptly and effectively to emergencies, protecting vulnerable populations and fostering a sense of security and community,” he stated.

…Buhari condoles with Tinubu

In a condolence message, former President Muhammadu Buhari condoled with President Tinubu over the stampedes.

Buhari in a message made available to NAN in Abuja also expressed sympathy to Oyo state Governor Seyi Makinde, his Anambra counterpart, Chukwuma Soludo and Minister of FCT Nyesom Wike.

He appealed to the leaders to pass on his words of sympathy and support to the families and friends of the victims while wishing those injured in the stampedes speedy recovery.

The former president equally sympathised with the Catholic community which was also affected.

Buhari further extended his warm wishes to Nigerians on the occasion of Christmas and called on fellow countrymen to recall the noble teachings of Jesus Christ.

He also extended his heartfelt wishes to Nigerians, praying that the New Year would usher in immense prosperity, peace and good health.

…Soludo too

Also, Governor Soludo has commiserated with the families of those who lost their lives in the stampede that occurred during a rice-sharing event in the state.

In a release from Soludo’s Chief Press Secretary, Christian Aburime, the governor was saddened by the news of the death of the women including nursing mothers and those pregnant, the elderly, and children in the unfortunate incident.

The tragedy resulted from the sharing of relief materials with underprivileged members of the Okija community this festive season by the Obi Jackson Foundation, led by Chief Ernest Obiejesi, a noble intention that ended in catastrophe.

“The Anambra State Government in a prompt action on the incident has initiated a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the stampede. The government will work closely with relevant agencies to determine the root causes of this unfortunate event and ensure that any negligence or lapses in safety protocols are duly addressed.

“The Governor implored philanthropists and humanitarian organisations to prioritise the safety and well-being of beneficiaries in their distribution of relief materials, and in a more organised and decentralised manner with adequate crowd control measures in place whenever they chose to do so,” the statement said.

Soludo added that various age demographics should be considered in a well-structured approach to reduce overcrowding and ensure orderliness whenever such activity is to be carried out.

…Wike also

In a similar condolence message, FCT Minister Wike also commiserated with victims of the stampede in Abuja.

Speaking through a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, the minister directed government hospitals to treat those that were injured in the stampede free of charge.

The minister, who directed that police permission should henceforth be obtained by individuals or organisations planning public distribution of palliatives, either food items or cash, said it was painful that 10 lives were lost in the stampede.

While praying for the repose of the souls of the lives that were lost and fortitude for their families to bear the irreparable loss, Wike assured that the government will ensure that those injured were given adequate medical attention.

The FCT minister commended the Police and other security agencies for their prompt intervention.

..Ondo issues directives on crowd control

And from Akure, the Ondo state capital, Blueprint reports that the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr. Olukayode Ajulo (SAN) has issued a series of directives outlining improved crowd control measures on behalf of the state government.

This, he said, was aimed at regulating public gatherings and ensuring the protection of lives and property during events.  

Ajulo said, “these directives are anchored in the powers vested in the Attorney General under Section 195 of the Constitution of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), Sections 62 and 95 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Ondo State 2015, and Sections 2 and 4 of the Nigeria Police Act 2020.”  

The Attorney General emphasised that the guidelines prioritised public safety while respecting citizens’ constitutional rights to peaceful assembly. 

It reads: “Assessment of Crowds: Law enforcement agencies are to conduct thorough risk assessments of any planned gatherings. Factors to consider include expected attendance, location, and potential for unrest. 

“Notification Requirements: Organisers of public events must notify local authorities prior to the event. Notifications should include details such as date, time, venue, and expected number of attendees.

“Deployment of Personnel: Adequate police and security personnel must be deployed to gather intelligence and maintain order before and during events.- Crowd management teams will be responsible for monitoring the event and addressing any issues that arise.

“Communication Protocols:- Establish clear communication channels between event organizers and law enforcement.- Regular updates should be shared to ensure swift responses to any crowd-related incidents.

 “Use of Technology:- Utilize surveillance and monitoring technology to observe crowd dynamics in real-time.- Drones and CCTV cameras may be employed where necessary to enhance security.

“Public Awareness Campaigns:- Conduct campaigns to educate the public on safety measures during gatherings.- Promote peaceful assembly and discourage violence or unlawful behaviour.

“Emergency Response Plans:- Develop and disseminate emergency response plans for potential incidents.- All personnel must be trained on these protocols.

Medical and Emergency Preparedness:

“Ensure a qualified medical team, emergency preparedness team, ambulances, and security personnel are present for events with over 300 participants, whether spiritual, physical, political, or social.

“Position medical teams and security personnel strategically within and outside the venue.

“Provision of Essentials:- Provide accessible packs of drinking water for participants.- Ensure mobile toilets are available, with a sanitation team to maintain cleanliness.

“Venue Accessibility: – Avoid venues with only one entrance or exit to facilitate smooth crowd movement.

“Legal Compliance:- All actions taken must comply with all the laws in operations in Nigeria with full adherence and respect to the Constitutional rights of citizens to assemble peacefully.  – “Any violations of these directives may result in legal action against the organizers or participants.”

Ajulo stated that the directives also called for enhanced collaboration between event organizers, law enforcement agencies, and local government authorities.

He stressed the importance of proactive measures, such as communication protocols and venue accessibility, to prevent incidents and ensure public safety.  

“These crowd control measures are a testament to Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa’s commitment to fostering a secure environment for public gatherings in Ondo State. Stakeholders are advised to familiarise themselves with the directives to avoid legal repercussions and contribute to a safer society,” he said.