Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has ordered an investigation into recent stampede incidents in Oyo, Anambra, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), where dozens of lives were tragically lost.
In a statement on Saturday, Egbetokun emphasised that negligence by event organisers is a criminal offence and warned that such lapses would no longer be tolerated.
The IGP attributed the chaos to the lack of a proper framework for distributing palliatives in the country, which has led to tragic consequences.
Egbetokun asked commissioners of police in the affected states to “carry out thorough investigations into these ugly incidents for further legal actions”.
Egbetokun also called on government officials, community leaders and NGOs to collaborate in developing an organised and secure method for distributing palliatives to avoid further tragedies.
“The IGP has hereby warned groups and organizers of similar events to ensure the involvement of security agencies as negligence on their part is criminal and would not be overlooked, as provided for in Sec. 196 of the Penal Code and Sec. 344 of the Criminal Code, Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” the statement said.
The warning follows multiple stampedes including a carnival in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Wednesday that claimed over 35 lives, mostly children.
On Saturday, stampedes during palliative distribution in Anambra’s Ojika community and Abuja’s Maitama area led to the deaths of at least 20 and 10 individuals, respectively.
The IGP urged beneficiaries of such distributions to exercise caution and prioritise their safety to avoid future calamities.
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