Human rights advocate, Femi Falana, urged the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to compensate the families affected by a tragic stampede in Lagos last month.
The incident, which occurred on February 23, 2024, claimed several lives during the rush to purchase subsidized rice sold by the NCS at their Zonal Office in Lagos. Despite the immediate suspension of the food distribution initiative by Customs following the incident, Falana criticized the lack of compensation for the victims' families.
Expressing dismay, Falana highlighted the NCS's failure to identify and offer condolences to the bereaved families, instead attributing blame to the deceased for their supposed impatience. He emphasized the NCS's responsibility for negligence, citing previous stampedes during similar food distributions. Falana argued that the NCS should have foreseen the overcrowding given the significant price difference between the subsidized rice and its market value.
Falana called for urgent steps to identify and compensate the families of the deceased, warning of legal action if necessary to uphold the victims' right to life as guaranteed by Nigerian law and international human rights conventions. Additionally, he urged the NCS to resume rice distribution promptly, suggesting that it be conducted through local government channels to prevent further stampedes.
In his appeal, Falana stressed the importance of accountability and the protection of citizens' rights, urging swift action to address the aftermath of the tragic incident.
