Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun has ordered investigations into stampede incidents in Oyo, Anambra, and Abuja that claimed multiple lives. He warned event organizers that negligence is a criminal offense and urged better planning of relief material distributions. The police plan legal actions to prevent future tragedies.
The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has directed a thorough investigation into recent stampedes in Oyo, Anambra, and Abuja that resulted in numerous fatalities. These incidents, linked to poorly organized events, have raised concerns over negligence and public safety.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Egbetokun emphasized that negligence during such events is a criminal offense, warning organizers to involve security agencies in future programs to prevent similar tragedies. He cited sections of the Penal and Criminal Codes to underline the legal consequences of such oversight.
The IGP attributed the chaos to a lack of proper planning in the distribution of relief materials, urging government officials, community leaders, and NGOs to establish structured frameworks for such activities. He also appealed to the public to exercise caution during similar events, prioritizing safety to avoid further casualties.
The stampede in Ibadan on Wednesday claimed over 35 lives, mostly children, during a carnival. On Saturday, two separate incidents in Anambra’s Ojika community and Abuja’s Maitama area, triggered by the distribution of palliatives, left 20 and 10 people dead, respectively.
Egbetokun tasked police commissioners in the affected states to investigate the incidents and pursue legal actions where necessary. He reiterated the importance of collaboration between event organizers and law enforcement to ensure public safety and prevent such devastating occurrences in the future.
