By Chidinma Ewunonu-Aluko
A legal practitioner, Mr Oluwatobi Fatoki, has condemned the parents involved in throwing children over the fence to collect palliatives as witnessed in Wednesday’s funfair tragedy in Ibadan.
Fatoki, a former spokesperson, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ibadan Branch, said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan on Tuesday that such parents were culpable.
NAN recalls 35 children died on Wednesday in a funfair stampede at Islamic High School, Bashorun, Ibadan.
Fatoki emphasised that the act of throwing or aiding children over the fence to collect palliatives was outrightly illegal and injurious.
“Such a parent should be held culpable for the death of any child who dies in the process; the paramount interest of a child should be the major concern of any parent.
“Parents and guardians should live up to the responsibility to protect their wards. We have lost national ethics according to the constitution.
“Government should ensure that things are done in the right way. We have regulatory bodies and protocols that should be followed.
“Issues of charity should be regulated in all ways to have a positive outcome,” he said.
The legal practitioner urged governments at all levels to put in place strict policies and protocols that must be adhered to by organisers of such programmes.
“These policies must be strictly followed before any mass gathering occurs in their states.
“Facilities such as numbers of uniformed officers/securities, first aid and medical emergency personnel, arrangement and mode of distribution should all be considered.
“This will support the masses in following directions and orders,” he said.
He also said it was time for community orientation on how the masses must act during massive distribution or empowerment programmes.
“Community leaders and school authorities can be used to help with this awareness.
“We all have to be involved to ensure the safety, protection and security of our people and community,” he said.
According to Fatoki, where there is orderliness and proper arrangements, there is always a graceful and not a disgraceful result. (NAN)
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