BREAKING: Tinubu cancels official events in Lagos to honour victims of Abuja and Anambra stampedes
President Bola Tinubu has cancelled all his official events in Lagos on Saturday, including his attendance at the 2024 Lagos Boat Regatta, in honour of the stampede victims in Abuja and Okija, Anambra State.
The two tragedies claimed many lives and left many others injured.
In a statement, Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and strategy, said one of Tinubu’s outings included attending the 2024 Lagos Boat Regatta.
He said the president was scheduled to watch the boat parade, organised by the Lagos government, and other activities of the boat regatta from the waterfront of his Queen’s Drive residence in Ikoyi area of the state.
According to the statement, dignitaries, including top officials of the Lagos government and white cap chiefs from the state, were already seated when the president cancelled his appearance following briefings on the tragedies.
The president commiserated with the victims of the incidents and urged states and relevant authorities to immediately enforce strict crowd control measures.
The president noted that it was very disturbing that the events bore a “distressing” resemblance to the recent incident in Ibadan, Oyo state.
Tinubu said local and state authorities should no longer tolerate operational lapses by organisations and corporate bodies involved in charitable and humanitarian activities.
The president prayed for the peaceful repose of innocent Nigerians who died in the stampede and wished a quick recovery to the injured.
”In a season of joy and celebration, we grieve with fellow citizens mourning the painful losses of their loved ones. Our prayers of divine comfort and healing are with them,” Tinubu was quoted as saying.
The president reiterated that these mishaps are avoidable if event planners adhere to necessary safeguards and protocols to ensure pre and post-event safety.
Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, has raised serious concerns about the unorganized distribution of palliatives and relief items in the country during this festive period.
The IGP who described the trend as worrisome spoke in a statement issued on Saturday by Muyiwa Adejobi, the force PRO.
He called for urgent concerns to save the lives of citizens of this country, especially the vulnerable youths and the elderly.The statement partly reads; ” This warning follows a series of tragic incidents that highlight the urgent need for a more structured and effective approach to delivering aid to vulnerable communities and members of the public in general. It would be recalled that on the 18th of December 2024, a tragic incident had occurred in Ibadan, Oyo State, where a stampede at a children’s fun fair resulted in the deaths of at least 35 children and left many others critically injured.
In the early hours of today, the 21st of December 2024, another tragedy struck at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Maitama, in a similar stampede that occurred during the distribution of food items to vulnerable and elderly individuals. This unfortunate incident led to the death of 10 individuals, leaving many others injured.
“A similar incident also occurred at Okija, Ihiala Local Government, Anambra State at a palliative distribution set up by a philanthropist identified as Obi Jackson, which led to the death of several individuals. At the moment, 3 persons have been confirmed dead while many injured have been taken to various hospitals for adequate treatment.
The IGP emphasized the dangers posed to public safety during these unorganized distributions and funfairs set up by groups, individuals and NGOs, including the potential for stampedes and other incidents that could endanger lives. The lack of a well-defined plan for distributing palliatives has resulted in chaos, leading to long lines and unnecessary confrontations among citizens seeking assistance.
“In light of these developments, the IGP has called on government officials, community leaders, and non-governmental organizations to work collaboratively towards establishing a comprehensive and organized framework for distributing palliatives.
The IGP has hereby warned groups and organizers of similar events to ensure the involvement of security agencies as negligence on their part is criminal and would not be overlooked, as provided for in Sec. 196 of the Penal Code and Sec. 344 of the Criminal Code, Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. In addition, the IGP has encouraged the general public who would want to benefit from such distributions to tread with caution, prioritizing their safety, to avoid unforeseen calamities.
“The Nigeria Police Force reiterates its commitment to supporting efforts aimed at creating a safer and more structured environment for aid distribution in our communities. Collaborating with relevant stakeholders, the Force aims to prevent future tragedies and ensure such processes are seamless
The IGP has ordered the Commissioners of the affected states to carry out thorough investigations into these ugly incidences for further legal actions. The Inspector-General of Police therefore sympathizes with the bereaved families and wishes those injured quick recovery.”