Human rights advocate Femi Falana has pointed fingers at official negligence as the cause of the deaths of students from Nasarawa State University, who died in a stampede incident on campus.
The unfortunate event unfolded during a scheduled distribution of palliatives by Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nassarawa State.
The distribution, intended to provide each student with two 7.5 kg bags of rice and N5,000, quickly turned chaotic as thousands of students gathered at the university’s convocation square.
The lack of organization led to a stampede, resulting in numerous injuries and, devastatingly, the loss of two female students’ lives.
“No doubt, the tragedy would have been averted if the University management had distributed the 7 kg bags of rice to the students through their departments.” He said.
Expressing condolences to the affected families, Falana criticized the university’s handling of the situation, stating the ill-equipped state of the university’s health center and the absence of a standby ambulance.
He stated that similar tragedies, like the recent stampede in Lagos during the distribution of rice by the Nigeria Customs Service, should have served as a warning to authorities.
Falana urged for a thorough investigation by the Nasarawa State police command into allegations of criminal negligence, calling for swift prosecution of those responsible. He stated the need for compensation for the bereaved families, particularly in light of official statements suggesting the involvement of hoodlums in the distribution exercise.
