The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has ordered a probe into the stampedes that occurred at food distribution centres in Abuja and Anambra State.
At least10 persons died and several others injured on Saturday, in the stampede that ensued during the distribution of food items to vulnerable and elderly individuals at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama, Abuja.
No fewer than 22 persons have now been confirmed dead and several others wounded in the stampede that occurred at Okija, Anambra State, where a philanthropist from the community had stockpiled food items for distribution to the residents.
In the wake of the incidents, IGP Egbetokun said negligence on the part of those distributing the items is criminal.
At a press conference in Abuja on Saturday, the spokesman of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), ACP Muyiwa Adejobi quoted the IGP as directing all police commissioners in the affected states to probe the incidents.
“The IGP has ordered the commissioners of the affected states to carry out thorough investigations into these ugly incidences for further legal actions,” Adejobi said.
He asked government officials, groups, individuals, community leaders, and non-governmental bodies to work “collaboratively towards establishing a comprehensive and organized framework for distributing palliative”.
“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 spokesman said.