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Human rights activist and lawyer Femi Falana has urged the Federal Government to compensate the families of those involved in the recent stampedes in parts of the country.
Falana stated this on Friday in Akure during a programme organised by the Ondo State Government, tagged Akeredolu Leadership Lecture Series, in honour of the late governor.
The lawyer blamed the Nigeria Police for the recent stampedes in Ibadan, Anambra and Abuja, where over 65 people died in the process of collecting palliatives.
Read Also: Bishop Kukah Blames Food Queue Stampedes On Govt Failures
According to him, the police failed to adequately protect people during the gatherings.
“It was failure of security; it’s not poverty that caused all the loss of lives.
“If there is any process or gathering, they, the police, shall provide security,” the lawyer said.
Falana said that Ondo State has become a reference point for states in the country by ensuring peace in its domain through the creation of the Ondo State Security Network, codenamed Amotekun, by Akeredolu.
In other news, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Kukah, says government failures were responsible for the recent stampedes in Oyo, Anambra and Abuja.
The Bishop stated this on Wednesday in his Christmas message, stressing that the stampedes were a metaphor for the situation of desperation that citizens have been thrown into.
“The tragedies that occurred in Okija, Ibadan, and Abuja where innocent people lost their lives in stampedes at food distribution points are a metaphor for the situation of desperation that citizens have been thrown into.
“The failures of government to respond concretely toward ending the horrible crisis of hunger and desperation has created the conditions for these avoidable tragedies.
“Citizens are lapsing into despair,” he said.
