‘Negligence Is Criminal,’ Police Warns Against Unorganized Distribution Of Palliatives
The Nigerian Police Force (NPF) has issued a warning against the unorganized distribution of palliatives, saying negligence on the part of conveners of such events will be punished.
Scores of persons lost their lives at different food distribution campaigns in Abuja and Anambra on Saturday with many others wounded.
Though an investigation has been launched into the incidents, the spokesman of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) Muyiwa Adejobi asked organizers of such events to carry security agencies along.
“In light of these developments, the IGP has called on government officials, community leaders, and non-governmental organizations to work collaboratively towards establishing a comprehensive and organized framework for distributing palliative,” Adejobi said in a statement on Saturday.
“The IGP has hereby warned groups and organizers of similar events to ensure the involvement of security agencies as negligence on their part is criminal and would not be overlooked, as provided for in Sec. 196 of the Penal Code and Sec. 344 of the Criminal Code, Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
The police described the recent spate of stampedes as “worrisome” and one that “calls for urgent concerns to save the lives of citizens of this country, especially the vulnerable youths and the elderly”.
Adejobi said the “IGP has ordered the Commissioners of the affected states to carry out thorough investigations into these ugly incidences for further legal actions,” is “sympathizing with the bereaved families and wishes those injured quick recovery”.
