The Alliance on Surviving Covid 19 and Beyond (ASCAB), led by Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), is demanding swift compensation for the families of seven indigent Nigerians who lost their lives in a tragic stampede during a rice distribution event in Lagos.
In a stern warning issued on Sunday, ASCAB threatens legal action against the Nigeria Customs Service if their plea goes unanswered.
Falana emphasized the urgency for the Nigeria Customs Service to identify and compensate the bereaved families promptly.
Should their advice be disregarded, ASCAB vows to take the matter to the Federal High Court, citing violations of the fundamental right to life as guaranteed by Nigerian law and international human rights charters.
Additionally, ASCAB insists on the immediate lifting of the suspension on the remaining rice distribution, advocating for a safer approach through local government councils to prevent future stampedes.
The tragic incident unfolded on February 23, 2023, as Customs distributed 25kg bags of rice to indigent citizens in Lagos from its zonal headquarters in Yaba.
The distribution turned deadly, claiming the lives of seven individuals and prompting the immediate suspension of the initiative.
In a critical statement, ASCAB expressed disappointment in the Nigeria Customs Service’s failure to identify and commiserate with the families of the deceased. Blaming the victims for their “impatience” drew further criticism from ASCAB.
Customs spokesperson, Mr. Abdullahi Maiwada, explained, “At a point, they decided to be impatient.
When we saw the crowd, we even suspended the collection of forms and said, ‘Let’s give them free.’ We did that, we exhausted everything.
“After exhausting everything and we told them everything had finished, and that they could go, that we didn’t have any more, they persisted.”
ASCAB holds the Nigeria Customs Service accountable for negligence, asserting that the foreseeable overcrowding at the Yaba Zonal Headquarters was overlooked, leading to the tragic loss of seven lives.
With a bag of rice selling for N77,000 at the time, ASCAB argues that Customs should have anticipated and addressed the potential crowd size invited to purchase a 25kg bag at N10,000.
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