The Nigeria Police Force has issued a warning against the unorganised distribution of palliatives and funfairs, which have led to stampedes and fatalities among vulnerable citizens.
The Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, delivered the warning during a media briefing on Saturday in Abuja.
Adejobi explained that the warning came in response to the increasing number of stampedes resulting in injuries and deaths, particularly during palliative distributions.
He noted that the Inspector-General of Police, Dr Olukayode Egbetokun, had expressed serious concerns over the uncoordinated distribution of relief items, especially during festive periods.
Adejobi emphasised the urgency of addressing this issue to protect vulnerable groups, including youths and the elderly.
“It will be recalled that on Dec. 18, a tragic incident occurred in Ibadan, Oyo State, where a stampede at a children’s funfair resulted in the deaths of about 35 children, leaving many others injured.
“In the early hours of Saturday, another tragedy struck at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama, Abuja, during the distribution of food items to vulnerable and elderly individuals.
“This unfortunate incident led to the deaths of 10 people, with many others injured. A similar incident occurred on the same Saturday in Anambra at a palliative distribution centre, resulting in the deaths of several individuals,” Adejobi said.
Adejobi confirmed that three people had died in the Anambra stampede, and the injured were taken to the hospital.
He attributed these incidents to the lack of a structured plan for palliative distributions, which often leads to unnecessary confrontations among citizens seeking assistance.
In response, the Inspector-General of Police had called on government officials, community leaders, and NGOs to collaborate in creating a comprehensive, organised framework for palliative distribution.
“The I-G has warned that organisers of such events must involve security agencies, particularly the Nigeria Police, to ensure order.
“Negligence on the part of organisers is a criminal offence and will not be overlooked as outlined in Section 96 of the Penal Code and Section 34 of the Criminal Code Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Adejobi said.
The I-G also urged the public to exercise caution when participating in such distributions, prioritising their safety to avoid further tragedies.
Adejobi reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigeria Police to support efforts aimed at creating a safer and more structured environment for aid distribution.(NAN)
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