Ezekwesili Questions If Government Leaders Will Heed Lessons From Stampedes In Ibadan, Abuja, And Anambra

Former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, has called on Nigerian leaders to reflect on the tragic losses of children in recent stampedes in Ibadan, Okija, and Abuja, describing the incidents as a glaring sign of the country’s worsening economic distress.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

In Okija, Anambra State, 22 residents lost their lives during a rice distribution event on Saturday. On the same day, a stampede at a Catholic church in Abuja, where food items were being distributed to vulnerable individuals, also resulted in fatalities.

These tragedies follow an earlier incident in Ibadan, Oyo State, where 40 people, mostly children, died during a carnival stampede.

Reacting via a post on X, Ezekwesili highlighted the connection between these events and the deepening food poverty affecting low- and middle-income families in Nigeria.

She wrote:
“The serial losses of several children seeking free food should deliver the strongest message yet to the self-indulgent ‘leaders’ occupying public offices in Nigeria.

“My heart aches for the families of the victims of the three stampedes during charity food distribution events in Ibadan, Okija, and Abuja.

“These tragedies reflect the scale of economic hardship in our country during what should be a season of celebration. Nigerians, especially those from low-income and struggling middle-income families, are now victims of pervasive food poverty.

“It’s heartbreaking to see that the well-meaning organizers of these programs underestimated the overwhelming number of people in need. Sadly, our weak emergency response systems failed to mitigate the resulting tragedies.

“This dire situation should be a wake-up call for our leaders. But the pressing question remains—will they listen?”