Tinubu Under Fire After 65 Nigerians Died From Rice Sharing Stampedes
The Amnesty International, global human rights body, has blasted the President Bola Tinubu-led Nigerian government over the death of 65 people in one week while jostling for free rice.
The world human rights organisation blamed the death of the victims on widespread hunger, high unemployment and rapid falling standard of living caused by the Tinubu’s administration.
Amnesty in a statement on Saturday while reacting to the three incidents that occurred in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, FCT Abuja and Okija in Anambra State within one week, decried the fact that millions of Nigerians are on the brink of starvation in the country.
The organisation said, “This week 65 people died across Nigeria at rice sharing stampedes: Ibadan 35 children died, Okija 20 people died, Abuja 10 people died.
“Millions of people are on the brink of starvation, widespread malnutrition and deep poverty. President Bola Tinubu’s government must urgently prioritise addressing widespread hunger, higher unemployment and the rapidly falling standard of living.”
Naija News House on Wednesday broke the news about how tragedy struck at the Islamic High School in Bashorun, Ibadan when 35 children died in a stampede that occurred during a children’s Christmas party.
Queen Naomi Silekunola Ogunwusi, the former wife of the Ooni of Ife, was a key organiser of the tragic children’s festive party. Additionally, Agidigbo 88.7 FM, owned by Oriyomi Hamzat, had actively promoted the event in the days leading up to the devastating incident.
The Oyo State Government confirmed that no fewer than 35 children lost their lives during the tragedy.
Similarly, Ibom Focus earlier reported that tragedy struck on Saturday morning as a stampede at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama claimed the lives of 10 individuals, including four children, and left several others injured.
It was gathered that the incident occurred during the distribution of palliatives by the church to vulnerable and elderly residents in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The FCT Police Command, in a statement issued by its spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, confirmed the fatalities and revealed that eight other individuals sustained injuries.
Josephine noted that four of the injured victims have since been treated and discharged, while the remaining are receiving medical attention.
It was learnt that the stampede broke out as thousands of residents scrambled to access the food items, leading to chaos and the unfortunate loss of lives.
However, the FCT Police expressed their condolences to the families of the deceased and wished the injured a speedy recovery.
The statement read, “This tragic event, which happened at about 6:30 am, led to a stampede that claimed the lives of ten (10) individuals, including four (4) children, and left eight (8) others with varying degrees of injuries. Four (4) of the injured have been treated and discharged, while the remaining victims are receiving medical care.”
Also, in Anambra state, Ibom Focus earlier reported that the Nigerian police confirmed that some yet-to-be-confirmed number of residents of Okija community in the Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State were stampeded to death on Saturday morning during a rice sharing in the community.
While a witness in a video of the incident seen by SaharaReporters, said the casualties were over 100 including men, women, pregnant women, it was later gathered that no fewer than 20 people have been confirmed dead in the incident.
