Newscenter Media News Human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) has condemned the tragic loss of over 105 lives in stampedes during food and cash distribution events across Nigeria. He attributed the disasters to “poverty-induced neoliberal economic policies” and “criminal negligence” by organizers and authorities.
In a statement released on Sunday, Falana, who chairs the Alliance on Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond (ASCAB), called the incidents a “national shame” and demanded accountability.
“These tragic events are a national shame,” he said. “The victims were not just statistics but human beings driven to desperation by systemic poverty and the gross incompetence of those entrusted with their safety.”
The most recent incidents occurred on December 21, 2024. In Okija, Anambra State, 12 people lost their lives, and 32 others sustained injuries during a scramble for rice distributed by a philanthropist. On the same day, in Abuja, a stampede at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama claimed 10 lives, including children, as over 3,000 people struggled to access palliatives.
Two days earlier, on December 19, a stampede at a Christmas funfair at Islamic High School in Basorun, Ibadan, resulted in the deaths of 35 children. Falana described the loss of these young lives as “heart-wrenching,” stating, “It underscores the indignity that poverty imposes on our people.”
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Falana also highlighted previous tragedies, including: the deaths of nine people in April 2024 at the residence of former governor Aliyu Wamakko in Sokoto during a chaotic palliative distribution, a March 2024 incident in Bauchi where seven people, including an eight-year-old girl, died at a charity event distributing ₦5,000 cash gifts, two students killed and 23 injured at a state government palliative distribution at Nasarawa State University, Keffi and a May 2022 tragedy in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where 30 people died at an overcrowded church charity event.
Falana criticized the elite for their approach to humanitarian aid. “No member of the elite invites others to lunch by throwing the food,” he remarked, condemning what he called “class prejudice” in the distribution of aid.
The Alliance on Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond has vowed to seek justice for the victims. “We will ensure survivors and families of the deceased are adequately compensated,” Falana said. “Those responsible for these avoidable tragedies must be held accountable.”
He urged the government to take decisive steps to address the systemic issues contributing to these incidents and to protect vulnerable citizens.
“Enough is enough!” Falana declared. “These events reflect the harsh realities of inequality in our nation and the urgent need for systemic reforms to protect the dignity and lives of our citizens.”
Falana’s call to action emphasizes the pressing need for better planning, regulation, and systemic change to prevent future tragedies.
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