Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has tasked President Bola Tinubu’s government to compensate families of those who lost their loved ones in the stampedes that occurred in different parts of the country.

Falana said that the Nigeria Police should be held responsible for the stampedes that led to the loss of lives in Oyo, Anambra State and Abuja.

Speaking on Friday at a public lecture to mark one year demise of former governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu, in Akure, the legal practitioner accused Nigeria police of sheer incompetence.

He noted that the stampedes that occurred during the distribution of food items and other palliatives in the country were a national tragedy.

He emphasised that the security agents are saddled with the rights under the constitution to protect the citizens of the country at all public gatherings.

Falana said: “The blame should also go to the Nigeria Police Force because of their sheer incompetence to protect those who lost their lives in those stampedes.

“The blame should also go to the Nigeria Police Force because of their sheer incompetence to protect those who lost their lives in those stampedes.

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“If there is any noise that disturbed the neighbours, the police would come. If a few people gathered on the street in a tumultuous manner, the police would come.

“Under Section 83, subsection 4 of the Police Establishment Act, 2020, if there is a rally, public meeting, or state rally, the police shall provide adequate security for the people.

“It was failure that led to the loss of lives in those stampedes. In traditional political meetings and protests, the law states that the police shall provide security so that hoodlums would not break into protests and cause mayhem.

“It is the management of protest and public meetings in our country that is the problem in our country. I therefore suggest that because we operate a capitalist system, somebody must bear responsibility for any damage.

“The federal government must pay compensation to the families of those who lost their lives in the stampedes because of the failure and negligence of the Nigeria Police Force.”