Seven individuals tragically lost their lives in a stampede that erupted during the distribution of seized bags of rice by the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) in Lagos. The NCS had initiated the distribution of seized food items, including rice, beans, maize, millet, and soya beans, to help alleviate economic hardship in the country. The rice, repackaged in 25kg bags, was priced at N10,000, and individuals were required to provide their national identification number (NIN) to purchase it.
The incident occurred at the NCS command in the Yaba area of Lagos, where many Nigerians had gathered to buy the 25kg bags of rice. Despite efforts to maintain order, a stampede ensued, resulting in the tragic loss of seven lives and injuries to others. Among the victims was Adebanjo Comfort Funmilayo, a member of the APC in Ward E1 Surulere, Lagos, whose death was announced by the party's leadership.
Abdullahi Maiwada, the NCS public relations officer, attributed the stampede to the failure of some Nigerians to follow instructions for the distribution process. He stated that despite the agency's efforts to ensure an orderly distribution, some individuals did not comply, leading to chaos. Maiwada emphasized that the incident was not due to a lack of coordination on the part of the agency but rather the attitude of some Nigerians.
While Maiwada could not confirm the exact number of casualties, he acknowledged that some individuals were taken to the hospital by NCS medical personnel. The agency had to resort to distributing the rice for free at some point to prevent further chaos.
