Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has attributed the deaths of 115 Nigerians during recent food stampedes in Ibadan, Abuja, and Anambra to the negligence of the Nigerian Police Force.

Falana made this assertion in Akure, the Ondo State capital, while delivering a public lecture organized by the Ondo State government in memory of the late former governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu. The lecture, titled “Security Sector Reform in Promoting Peace, Stability, and Development: The Ondo State Example,” marked the inaugural event in a new lecture series.

According to Falana, the tragic incidents occurred because the police failed to fulfill their constitutional duty to protect citizens. He stated, “The deaths of 115 Nigerians in the recent incidents in Ibadan, Abuja, and Okija are unacceptable. The police failed to protect the people, and I hold them responsible. The government must pay compensation to the families who lost their loved ones due to these failures.”

He urged the Nigerian government to address the root causes of social insecurity, including widespread poverty, unemployment, hunger, and illiteracy. Falana stressed that without addressing social insecurity, physical security—protecting lives and property—cannot be guaranteed.

The lawyer also praised the late Akeredolu for his commitment to justice and his efforts to enhance security in Ondo State. He highlighted Akeredolu’s establishment of Amotekun, the regional security network, as a groundbreaking initiative that set an example for other states in Nigeria.

“Today, all 36 state governors have come together to approve state police, but it was Akeredolu who laid the groundwork by enacting the law that legitimized Amotekun. That singular action has made Ondo State the most peaceful state in Nigeria,” Falana said.

He concluded by emphasizing the importance of sustaining Akeredolu’s legacy, noting that preserving and building on his achievements would be the greatest tribute to the late governor.