Human rights activist Omoyele Sowore says the economic policies of President Bola Tinubu’s administration have resulted in the deaths of at least 100 Nigerians within a week.
Sowore, who is also the convener of the #RevolutionNow Movement, made this statement on social media in response to several tragic incidents, including the death of 35 children in a stampede at a funfair in Oyo State, 10 people who died in a stampede in Abuja, and 22 people who lost their lives in a rice sharing stampede in Anambra.
These incidents, Sowore argues, are a direct consequence of the economic hardship faced by Nigerians under the current administration.
Sowore, a former presidential candidate for African Action Congress (AAC), said the terrible incidents occurred because people are hungry and desperately in search of food to eat.
“Not less than 100 Nigerians have perished in less than a week in Ibadan (Oyo), Okija (Anambra), and Abuja (FCT) just in search of rice,” he said.
“This speaks precisely to the debilitating economic destruction wrought on Nigerians by the @officialABAT regime since his unfortunate ascension to power in May 2023.”
According to him, “If anyone didn’t know how bad things are and how our people are really desperate for survival, this unprecedented but unwarranted death by hunger-suicide tells the real story.”
“Nigeria is in trouble and Nigerians are endangered!” he lamented.
SaharaReporters had reported how tragedy struck last Wednesday morning at the Islamic High School in Bashorun, Ibadan, when a stampede occurred during a children’s funfair, where gifts were to be distributed.
Queen Naomi Silekunola Ogunwusi, the estranged wife of the Ooni of Ife, organised the event.
No fewer than 35 children were confirmed dead from the incident while dozens of others were injured.
Also Saturday, SaharaReporters also reported that another tragedy struck earlier that as a stampede at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama claimed the lives of 10 individuals, including four children. Several others were injured.
It was gathered that the incident occurred during the distribution of palliatives by the church to vulnerable and elderly residents in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The FCT Police Command, in a statement issued by its spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, confirmed the fatalities and revealed that eight other individuals sustained injuries.
Also, SaharaReporters reported that the Nigerian police confirmed that 22 residents of Okija community in the Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State were stampeded to death while rice was being shared in the community.
