The Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC, has called out the Nigeria Police to arrest the organizers of palliative distribution in Abuja and Anambra or set the organizers of a similar event in Ibadan free.
The call was made on by the Executive Director of the organization, Prof. Ishaq Akintola.
In a statement on Tuesday, Akintola condemned the idea of different treatments for the same tragic incident in three different places.
He, therefore, demanded the immediate and unconditional release of those arrested in Ibadan over the disaster.
Recall that about 35 children died in a stampede during a children’s funfair in Ibadan, last Wednesday.
However, a similar incident occurred on Saturday in Abuja. 10 persons were reported dead during the distribution of rice and other palliatives at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama.
Also, at least 20 residents of Okija community in Anambra State lost their lives during a stampede over rice palliative distribution.
In the Ibadan incident, the police have arrested Ms. Naomi Silekunola, the ex-wife of Ooni of Ife, and seven others in connection with the stampede. The organizers were later arraigned in the court.
However, a new twist occurred when a Chief Magistrate Court in Iyaganku, Ibadan, ordered the remand of three key figures in the organization of the event.
The individuals include the school’s principal, Mr Abdullahi Fasasi; the proprietor of Agidigbo FM, Alhaji Oriyomi Hamzat; and Silekunola, the estranged wife of Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, the Ooni of Ile Ife.
Chief Magistrate Olabisi Ogunkanmi, who presided over the case on Tuesday, ordered that the trio be remanded at the Agodi Correctional Centre.
But reacting to the development, the MURIC President, Akintola faulted the remand of the organizers. He stated that the Ibadan case should not be a scapegoat for the other incidents.
He said, “MURIC is interested in knowing why it was only the organizers of the Ibadan event that were arrested. While those in Abuja and Okija were allegedly left free. We, therefore, demand the immediate and unconditional release of the organizers of the Ibadan event.
“Queen Naomi Silekunola in particular is well known for her philanthropic activities. And nobody in his or her right mind will assume that she deliberately planned a massacre.
“By the same token, the arrest of the principal of Islamic High School, Orita Bashorun, Ibadan, was quite unnecessary. This is because the alumni of that school have confirmed that the venue was approved by the Oyo State Ministry of Education. Not by the principal acting unilaterally.
“The Obi Jackson Foundation led by Chief Ernest Obiejesi had good intentions as usual. But things still went wrong. However, Anambra police did not haul him into detention the way Oyo police detained Queen Naomi and Mr. Fasasi, the school principal,” Akintola said.
Akintola also noted that there has been no report of arrests by the Abuja police formation over the palliative-induced stampede at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama, Abuja, on Saturday, December 21, 2024.
“The Nigeria Police has left many questions unanswered regarding its handling of the three tragic episodes. 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 organizers should have been treated equally. But as things stand, it appears the sledgehammer descended on Ibadan organizers alone. While Abuja and Okija merely vowed to investigate the calamities,” Akintola said.
“There is only one way to go, arrest the organizers of the Abuja and Okija events. Or set the Ibadan organizers 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. The police should not blow hot and cold at the same time,” Akintola said.
Follow us for more news on our WhatsApp News Channels @
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaC505jB4hdZ5Yx9g82U