Stampedes: Falana to sue organisers over death of 105 people 

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Human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) says criminal negligence and poverty were responsible for the scores of deaths recorded as hungry Nigerians scrambled to get free food in Ibadan, Anambra, Port Harcourt and Abuja.
He said that the tragedy was caused by systemic poverty and the gross incompetence of those entrusted with the safety of the victims.
“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,” he added in a statement released on Sunday.
Falana detailed the incidents and called for justice for the victims and their families.

On December 19, a total of 35 children were crushed to death at a Christmas funfair in Ibadan, Oyo State; 12 died and 32 injured in Okija, Anambra State on December 21;  and more people died in another scramble for food on the same day at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Maitama, Abuja.

“The loss of these innocent lives is heart-wrenching,” Falana said, adding that “it underscores the indignity that poverty imposes on our people.”

Before the latest incidents, nine people died in April 2024 in Sokoto: seven in March 2024 in Bauchi; two students of Nasarawa State University, Keffi; and 30 people on  May 22, 2022, in Port Harcourt.

“These tragic events are a national shame. 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.”

Falana, who heads The Alliance on Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond, announced plans to mobilise lawyers to pursue civil suits against organisers of the events. “We will ensure survivors and families of the deceased are adequately compensated.”

According to him, those responsible for the avoidable tragedies must be held accountable, and government must take decisive action to prevent further loss of lives.

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