Femi Falana, a human rights lawyer, has knocked the Nigeria Police Force for the stampedes, which occurred during the distribution of food items and other palliatives in Ibadan, Anambra and Abuja last week.

Mr Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), explained that the police failed in its responsibility to protect the citizens at all public gatherings. 

“The blame should also go to the Nigeria Police Force because of their sheer incompetence to protect those who lost their lives in those stampedes,” said Mr Falana, who described the stampedes as a national tragedy.

He spoke on Friday at a public lecture organised by the Ondo State government to mark the departure of the late former governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, in Akure.

The lecture was titled: “Security Sector Reform In Promoting Peace, Stability and Development; the Ondo State Example.”

“Under section 83, subsection 4 of the Police Establishment Act, 2020, if there is a rally, public meetings, or state rally, the police shall provide adequate security for the people. 

“It was a failure that led to the loss of lives in that stampede. In traditional political meetings and protests, the law states that the police shall provide security. So that hoodlums would not break into protest and cause mayhem,” the human rights lawyer said.

While calling for systemic reforms to protect the dignity and lives of the citizens, Mr Falana advised the Nigerian police to always take decisive steps to forestall incidents of such manners and protect the vulnerable. 

He called on the federal government led by President Bola Tinubu to ensure there is compensation for the families of the victims. 

“It is the management of protests and public meetings in our country that is the problem in our country. I therefore suggest that because we operate a capitalist system, somebody must bear responsibility for any damage. 

“The federal government must pay compensation to the families of those who lost their lives in the stampedes because of the failure and negligence of the Nigeria Police Force,” he added. 

Speaking, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa described Mr Akeredolu as a man of courage who always speaks the “truth” to power. 

“Arakunrin Akeredolu was that courageous leader who spoke truth to power and fought for the advancement of democracy and the Rule of Law in our country,” he said.