Season of Stampedes: Tinubu Mourns Victims of Stampedes, Cancels Official Events in Lagos in Honour of Abuja, Anambra Victims

By: Olufemi Orunsola 

Reports reaching the news desk of OPEN TELEVISION NAIJA (OTN) News have it that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has cancelled all his official events earlier planned to hold in Lagos on Saturday in honour of the victims of multiple fatal stampedes that rocked Abuja and Anambra states respectively.

OTN News had earlier reported the multiple stampedes that led to the death of a yet-to-be-confirmed persons, including children and women who lost their lives in separate stampedes that occurred at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama, Abuja and at Okija community in Anambra state during a philanthropic event for the distribution of rice to the needy on Saturday morning.

The President's decision to cancel his earlier scheduled event was announced by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, in a press release posted on his official x handle, that the President, while mourning the death of the victims and those who sustained injuries revealed that one of Tinubu’s outings included attending the 2024 Lagos Boat Regatta.

He further said that the President Tinubu was scheduled to watch the boat parade, organised by the Lagos government, and other activities of the boat regatta from the waterfront of his Queen’s Drive residence in Ikoyi area of the state.

According to the statement, dignitaries, including top officials of the Lagos government and white cap chiefs from the state, were already seated when the president announced the cancellation of his appearance, upon being briefed on the tragedies.

The President commiserated with the victims of the incidents and urged states and relevant authorities to immediately enforce strict crowd control measures.

Onanuga further revealed that the President is pained by the realization that the Abuja and Anambra stampedes bore striking similarities with the tragic incident that happened at Ibadan, Oyo State, mid week.

Tinubu said local and state authorities should no longer tolerate operational lapses by organisations and corporate bodies involved in charitable and humanitarian activities.