SaharaReporters had reported that some female students of the University died after a stampede at the institution's convocation square during the distribution of palliatives to the students.
A civil society, the Save Public Education Campaign (SPEC), has expressed its condolences to the families of the female students of the Nasarawa State University, Keffi, who died after a stampede at the university’s convocation square during the distribution of palliatives to the students.
SPEC blamed the President Bola Tinubu-led Nigerian government for the death of the students, saying had Nigerians not been thrown into abject poverty, there wouldn't have been the need for distribution of palliative that could lead to the death of citizens.
SaharaReporters had reported that some female students of the University died after a stampede at the institution's convocation square during the distribution of palliatives to the students.
Several other students reportedly sustained varying degrees of injury as a result of the stampede.
The National President of the Nasarawa State Students Association, Yunusa Baduku, who confirmed the incident to journalists, had described it as horrible.
In a statement issued on Thursday, SPEC said that Nigerians had been thrown into hardship that they now scampered for food, dying in the process.
The group demanded adequate compensation for the families of the deceased students; an end to what it described as poorly coordinated, selective food palliative system and resumption of nationwide hunger protest.
“That citizens and students of a so-called biggest country in Africa now have to resort to scavenging and scampering for food, and dying in the process, is a very grim commentary on the state of the country.
“We demand adequate compensation for the families of the deceased students; an end to the poorly coordinated, selective food palliative system and a comprehensive citizens-led, country-wide #EndHunger protest should resume immediately.
“The Save Public Education Campaign (SPEC), joins the entire Staff and Students of the Nasarrawa State University, Keffi, to mourn over the avoidable death of her two students, Ms. Rose Michael, a 400- level Student of Psychology Department and Ms. Grace Danladi Enupe, level 200 of the Computer Science Department, on the eve of Friday, 22nd March this Year.
“We hold that the painful death of these two young and bright Students was not just tragic but totally avoidable being that were studying and living conditions made conducive for Students, the deceased Students would not have had any need in the first place to resort to scampering for rations of Staples.
“We therefore place both the blame and responsibility for their deaths on the worsening economic crisis of the government, occasioned by anti-masses and anti-workers policies of the government, as the floating of the Naira, fuel subsidy removal without stabilising measures, etc which have plunged millions of citizens into hunger and deep poverty.
“These policies have caused a sharp surge in the prices of staple foods, way beyond the reach of the common People,” the statement read.
The statement added that “As we have severally made clear, it is purely antithetical to remove subsidy on Fuel or deregulate Naira and then turn round and return the same subsidy as Wage Awards and Discounts on Food items.
“We believe that the government should first ensure optimal local production, price regulation and market availability of Foods and Items before implementing Policies that have the potential to affect the prices of staple foods.
“We are therefore deeply saddened that these 2 Nasarawa students were unfortunate victims of the impacts of these poorly thought-out, unpopular Policies of the government of the d
According to the group, “The death of Ms Rose Michael and Ms. Grace Danladi Enupe is therefore a national loss for which the deceased families should be properly compensated.
“Importantly also, we demand an end to the food palliative system as it lacks any potential to genuinely resolve the fundamental hunger crisis of Nigerians.
“The temporal discount/free food being offered, not only that it does not get to even 10 percent of the real Masses, but more fundamentally, is purely ephemeral and cosmetic as it only lasts for fleeting moments before the Hunger Crisis hits again.
“In the stead of these cosmetic palliatives, the government should rather implement sustainable economic policies that will ensure market stability and strengthen the financial capacity of the Masses to purchase Items.
“In the same vein, we believe that the recent staggered #EndHunger Protests need not wind down at this time, as the problem not only still persists but has become even more widespread.
“We therefore call on the united Labour Fronts, Student Bodies and CSOs to begin mobilisation to resume the #EndHunger Protest, which should be indefinite until status quo changes.
“The leadership of these Fronts must properly mobilise, canvass and prepare their members for a total, comprehensive and effective Protest Actions that will cut across every layer of the working people, old, young and students.
“Anything to the contrary, will only see and lead to the reinforcement of the crippling Hardships that the Mass of the Citizenry are currently facing and the avoidable tragedies that occasion same.”