A recent string of tragic events has sparked outrage and calls for accountability, as the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) demands equal treatment for organizers of palliative distributions in Abuja, Anambra, and Ibadan.
The incidents, which occurred in the past week, resulted in the loss of approximately 50 lives, mostly children, due to stampedes during palliative distributions. While the organizers of the Ibadan event were arrested and detained, those responsible for the Abuja and Okija events were not.
MURIC’s Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, condemned the disparate treatment, questioning why the Ibadan organizers were singled out for arrest. “Queen Naomi Silekunola, one of the organizers, is well-known for her philanthropic work. It defies logic to assume she deliberately planned a massacre. We demand her immediate and unconditional release,” Akintola said.
“The idea of different treatments for the same tragic incident in three different places is unacceptable. A stampede is a stampede. One should not be differentiated from the other. Ditto for the issue of deaths. Homo sapiens died in all the events, not goats, not dogs. All the organisers should have been treated equally,” Akintola emphasized.
The organization also criticized the arrest of the principal of Islamic High School in Ibadan, stating that the venue was approved by the Oyo State Ministry of Education. “The Obi Jackson Foundation, which organized the event in Anambra, had good intentions, but was not detained. This selective application of justice is unacceptable,” Akintola noted.
MURIC emphasized that all organizers should be treated equally and demanded that the police either arrest the organizers of the Abuja and Okija events or release those detained in Ibadan. “The police should not blow hot and cold at the same time. There is only one way to go, viz, arrest the organisers of the Abuja and Okija events or set the Ibadan organisers free. The honourable thing the Oyo State Police Command can do is to set those detained free immediately and unconditionally while the state government sets up a panel to investigate the tragedy,” Akintola said.
The Nigeria Police has faced criticism for its handling of the incidents. In response, the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, ordered an investigation into the stampedes and threatened prosecution of organizers who fail to involve security agencies in their events.
As the investigation unfolds, MURIC has condoled with the bereaved families and prayed for the fortitude to bear their loss. “We condole with the bereaved families and we pray that Allah will give them the fortitude to bear the loss. Finally, we align with the position of the police concerning the need for organisers of future events which are likely to draw large crowds to involve the police for security measures and crowd control modalities,” Akintola said.
The incidents serve as a stark reminder of the importance of crowd control and security measures during large gatherings. As the country mourns the loss of innocent lives, calls for accountability and equal treatment under the law continue to grow.
