Modern technology gives us many things.

Ibadan Stampede: Freedom to Assemble, Not Absolute, Says Fatai Owoseni

0

Fatai Owoseni, the Special Adviser to the Oyo State Government on Security and retired Lagos State Police Commissioner, has addressed the recent stampede at a children’s Christmas party in Ibadan. He emphasised that while freedom to assemble is a fundamental right, it is not absolute and must be exercised responsibly.  

Speaking on the tragic incident that occurred at the Islamic High School, Bashorun, Owoseni criticised the organisers for failing to engage security personnel before holding the event.

In his words on the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS), He said, “The one that happened at Islamic High School is a bit… (concerning). Yes, we’ve heard some people saying it is expected of the police to know. But where Nigeria is today, if the police hear about your intention to gather people and try to stop you, you’ll hear people and lawyers shouting about fundamental rights.  

“But what they don’t realise is that the freedom to assemble is not absolute. It comes with responsibilities. They also hyped the program more than necessary. And knowing they didn’t consult anyone about it, they thought they could handle it alone.”

Read Also: Detained for Five Days, FoodCo Employee Charged N18m Fraud over N24k Missing Transaction

Owoseni further alleged that the organisers did not inform local law enforcement, including the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of the area.

“I can challenge them… even the common DPO within this premises—they didn’t tell him they wanted to hold the funfair,” he added.

Meanwhile, Queen Naomi’s family have denied this allegation.

The stampede, which claimed the lives of 35 children, has sparked widespread outrage and calls for accountability. Investigations are ongoing to determine the circumstances surrounding the tragedy and whether negligence contributed to the incident.

Read Also: Tragedy Strikes Children’s Christmas Party in Ibadan as Stampede Claims Lives 

PIJAlance Magazine, is an independent public-centric journalism arm of PIJA Foundation that stands to tell stories connecting the masses to community justice and development. We always rebel against social injustice. Got a story you'll like us to publish, tip us in contact us.

Leave A Reply

Your email address will not be published.

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Accept Read More