FG Warns Against Politicising Stampede Deaths in Ibadan, Abuja, and Anambra

The federal government has warned politicians and stakeholders not to impute political meanings to the tragic incidents in Ibadan, Abuja, and Okija, where scores of people scrambling for palliatives and food items died.

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, who made the appeal on Sunday in a statement, promised that the hard times the country was currently going through would be over soon.

In Lagos State, the government banned the gathering of people for any event without government permission, warning that organisers risk prosecution if they flout the regulations.

The Anambra State Police Command gave an update on the stampede that happened in Okija on Saturday during an event to distribute rice to indigent people, saying no fewer than 22 people died. 

The state governor, Chukwuma Soludo, gave directives on how subsequent distribution of food items by philanthropists to indigent people must be done to forestall further loss of lives.

Worried by the developments, former President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Kashim Shettima, Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, and National Association of Seadogs commiserated with President Bola Tinubu and families of the victims of the various tragedies occasioned by stampede.

However, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) described the tragic events as an ugly testament to the level of misery, poverty, hunger, starvation, hopelessness and desperation for survival under the Tinubu-led All Progressives Congress (APC) government.

Similarly, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) expressed concern over the spate of deaths from economic relief-related stampedes, attributing them to the government’s failure to address worsening economic conditions. 

Nevertheless, Abia State First Lady, Mrs. Priscilla Otti, assured children of the state that she would always fight for their rights, protection and welfare to guarantee them a secure future. 

The information minister insisted that the tragic events were in no way connected to the Tinubu administration’s economic reforms. 

He said, “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 unfounded and disingenuous.”

The minister also expressed deep sympathy with the families of those who lost their lives in the stampedes in Ibadan, Abuja, and Okija. 

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

He described the tragedies that claimed over 74 lives as deeply saddening, stating that the incidents underscore the importance of ensuring proper crowd management during such charitable activities, especially during the festive seasons. 

While acknowledging the noble intentions of organisers seeking to bring relief to vulnerable members of society, the minister admonished all individuals and organisations 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. 

Idris stressed the importance of collaboration with the police and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), stating that it is crucial to safeguard lives and ensure that efforts to assist those in need does not lead to further distress, inadvertently.

He said the reforms by the administration were designed to uplift the lives of all Nigerians, particularly the vulnerable, without causing distress, as well as reposition the Nigerian economy for sustainable growth.

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

Equally, speaking at his country home, Malagi, in Gbako Local Government Area of Niger State, Idris assured the people that the hard times being faced by Nigerians as a result of the economic reform agenda of the Tinubu government would be over next year.

He said the gains of the economic reforms of the administration would begin to manifest from next year, and bring succour to Nigerians.

The minister was at his country home to inaugurate some projects he executed for the benefit of the community.

He stated, “All the gains of the economic reforms of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will begin to manifest in 2025. The policies are designed to put Nigeria on the path of enduring prosperity.

“All the reform programmes and initiatives of Mr President have been well-thought out, articulated and well-formulated in the interest and for the benefits of all Nigerians, irrespective of wherever they come from.  Nigerians will start enjoying the benefits from next year.

“Reforms are very difficult for the people who are formulating it and difficult for people who are also enduring it but we know that, ultimately, they (reforms) will take us to the desired destination.” 

Further drumming support for the Tinubu administration, Idris assured, “Nigeria will definitely turn the corner and we are already beginning to see the signs of that. Our economy is going to turn around.

“So, let Nigerians give Mr President a chance and by this time next year, 2025 is a year of consolidation for the gains of all the economic reforms that Mr President has instituted. By 2025, we will see them all come to manifest.”

Sanwo-Olu: No Events Must Hold in Lagos Without Consulting Our Safety Commission

Lagos State Government banned the gathering of people for any event without government permission, and warned that organisers of unauthorised events risked prosecution. The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso, who stated this ok Sunday, during a press briefing.

Omotoso underscored the need for organisers of events, where over 250 participants were expected, to ensure that such events were registered with the Lagos State Safety Commission.

He stated that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu was not happy with the tragic news from charity efforts and would not want such tragic occurrences in Lagos.

The commissioner stated that no matter the kind of event, the organisers needed to consult the state’s safety commission. He said all the emergency agencies had been activated to ensure that no tragic incident happened in Lagos.

The Commissioner for Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations, Gbenga Oyerinde, implored Lagos residents to be their brothers’ keepers by reporting any incidents likely to turn tragic to the state government.

Oyerinde said residents should call the state’s toll free lines to report for government to take necessary actions. 

He stated, “Lagos residents should know that we are serious about this and when residents see any act that poses threat to safety, they should cry out and alert the necessary agencies.”

Director, Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Mrs. Margaret Adeseye, implored residents to be safety conscious by not storing inflammable items, especially this period of harmattan. 

Adeseye disclosed that 1,749 fire incidences were recorded in the state in the last one year, stating that harmattan only aids, but is not the cause of fire incidents. 

She also stated that the use of fireworks should be totally discouraged at this period, warning traders not to warehouse fireworks without appropriate safety measures.

Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, urged residents to embrace good environmental sanitation practices in order to ensure a sustainable environment. 

“The Yuletide season is a time for celebration, but it is also crucial that we prioritise environmental cleanliness. We encourage all residents to dispose waste properly and avoid littering the streets, walkways, road medians, kerbs, open spaces, drainages and canals,” Wahab stated.

Anambra Police Confirms 22 Dead, Soludo Gives Guideline for Distributing Palliatives 

Anambra State Police command gave an update on Saturday’s tragic stampede in Okija, during an event to distribute rice to indigent people, confirming 22 people dead.

Governor Chukwuma Soludo also gave directives on how subsequent distribution of items by philanthropists to indigent people should be done to forestall loss of lives.

Speaking on the casualty figures, which had become contentious, spokesperson of Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said the Commissioner of Police, Nnaghe Itam, visited the victims in the hospital and condoled with the families and friends of those, who lost their lives.

Itam said, “The Commissioner of Police, CP Nnaghe Obono Itam, visited the hospital where the victims of the tragic stampede that occurred on 21/12/2024 in Okija, Ihiala Local Government Area, are receiving treatment and regrettably observed that 22 people lost their lives.”

He said investigation into the unfortunate incident was still ongoing, and the police remained dedicated to ensuring the safety and well-being of Anambra State, especially with regard to crime prevention, responding promptly and effectively to emergencies, protecting vulnerable populations, and fostering a sense of security and community.

Soludo expressed deep grief over the loss of lives. The governor, in a press release by his press secretary, Mr Christian Aburime, said anyone sharing food items to indigent people must henceforth prioritise their safety.

The statement said, “In his expression of sympathy, Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, CFR, extends his deepest condolences to the families of the deceased, especially the women, the elderly, pregnant, nursing mothers and children who lost their lives in this unfortunate incident.

“The state government has also implored all well-meaning individuals and organisations engaged in charitable activities to prioritise the safety and well-being of beneficiaries.

“The resulting tragedy underscores the urgent need for a more structured and safer approach to distributing such assistance.”

It added that Anambra State Government had initiated a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the stampede. 

Buhari, Shettima, Akpabio, Abiodun, NAS sympathise with Victims’ Families

Former President Muhammadu Buhari expressed his grief and extended condolences to President Bola Tinubu over the tragic stampedes in Oyo State, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Anambra State in which several lives were lost.

In a condolence message, Buhari sympathised with Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, his Anambra State counterpart, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, and the FCT minister, Nyesom Wike.

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

Buhari further sympathised with the Catholic community, which was also affected, and extended his warm wishes to Nigerians on the occasion of Christmas. He called on fellow countrymen to recall the noble teachings of Jesus Christ.

Vice President Kashim Shettima offered prayers for victims of the tragic stampedes, describing them as national tragedies.

In his condolence message, Shettima, according to a release by his Media Assistant, Stanley Nkwocha, expressed deep sorrow over the losses, and offered prayers and heartfelt condolences.

He stated, “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.

“This is not just a loss for individual states; it is a loss for the entire nation. May the Almighty God grant eternal rest to the souls of the departed.”

Chairman of Southern Governors’ Forum (SGF) and Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, in his message of condolence, lamented that the deaths of the innocent individuals were particularly heart-breaking, as they stemmed from their pursuit of basic needs for survival.

Acknowledging the prevailing economic challenges faced by citizens, he emphasised that the administration of Tinubu, together with other levels of government, continued to strive towards improving the living conditions of the citizenry.

Abiodun urged Nigerians to exercise restraint and adhere to security protocols during palliative distribution events to prevent further tragedies.

“Deaths such as these diminish us as a people. These disasters came at a time when families around the world are in a festive and joyous mood. It is indeed tragic,” he said.

National Association of Seadogs (Pyrates Confraternity) said it was deeply saddened by the loss of over 60 lives in Oyo, Anambra, and Abuja during recent palliative distribution stampedes.

The association, in a statement by its Capn, Dr. Joseph Oteri, said the needless deaths were a grim reflection of the desperation gripping many Nigerians, underscoring the rising hunger and economic hardship that have engulfed the nation.

The association stated, “While we commend the efforts of well-meaning individuals and organisations in Oyo, Anambra and Abuja, to alleviate the plight of vulnerable citizens through palliatives, it is evident that these measures have been marred by inadequate planning, poor coordination.”

The statement said, “However, the chaotic scenes that led to these fatal incidents are an indictment of the systemic failure to address the root causes of hunger and poverty.”

The group said  rising hunger in Nigeria was a national emergency that demanded urgent action. 

PDP Slams Tinubu over Tragic Stampedes

PDP  described the widespread food stampede in the country as an ugly testament to the level of misery, poverty, hunger, starvation, sense of hopelessness and desperation for survival currently plaguing the country under the Tinubu-led APC government.

The party, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, lamented the tragic stampedes at private events in Oyo and Anambra states, as well as the FCT, Abuja, which claimed about 60 lives. The party lamented that these included children in their desperate struggle for food as a result of the pervasive hunger in the land occasioned by the anti-people policies of the APC administration.

PDP said it was devastated that the APC administration had wrecked once thriving national economy and pushed millions of Nigerians deeper into abject poverty and hunger, with many citizens, not being able to afford their daily meals, now resorting to suicide and desperate measures, including slavery missions abroad and fighting for crumbs for survival.

PDP stated, ”It is heart-breaking that despite our abundant resources as a nation, Nigerians have been subjected to agonising life where they die struggling for food.

”This horrifying situation in the country further confirms the APC as a party of ‘political vampires and buccaneers’, who have no iota of regard for human life but rather derive pleasure in the suffering and death of citizens including innocent children.”

HURIWA: Deaths Caused by Weaponised Poverty

Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) expressed concern over the spate of stampedes that had resulted in deaths in some parts of the country, attributing the tragedies to government’s failure to address worsening economic conditions. 

The advocacy group accused both the federal and the state governments of “weaponising poverty,” and creating an environment where desperate citizens risked their lives to scramble for basic necessities.

HURIWA, in a statement by its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, maintained that the stampedes were the result of severe hunger and deprivation fuelled by skyrocketing inflation, poor economic policies, and the weaponisation of poverty. 

The group stated, “Nigerians are dying while rushing for staple foods that were affordable just a few weeks before President Bola Ahmed Tinubu took office. The government’s inability to implement effective economic policies has pushed millions into desperation.”

Mrs. Otti Hosts Abia Children, Assures Them She’ll Always Fight for their Rights

Abia State First Lady, Mrs. Priscilla Otti,  assured the children of the state that she would always fight for their rights, protection and welfare to guarantee them a secured future. 

She gave the assurances, weekend, during a Christmas party organised for Abia children at Government House, Umuahia, during which the first lady interacted with the kids and handed them Christmas presents.

“These children are special and dear to our hearts. We are committed to championing strategic initiatives that enhance their growth, development, and well-being,” she said. 

Otti stated that Christmas season “reminds us of the importance of creating a world where every child feels loved, cherished, and protected”. 

She restated her commitment to combat negative practices that impeded the growth of Abia children, adding that she would always be there to advocate children’s rights and ensure that their voices are heard. 

 Deji Elumoye, Chuks Okocha, Olawale Ajimotokan, Segun James, David-Chyddy Eleke, James Sowole in Abeokuta, Laleye Dipo in and Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo

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