The All Progressives Congress (APC) has confirmed the death of one of its members, Comfort Adebanjo, who d!ed while trying to buy a bag of rice from the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) in Lagos.
The Nigerian Customs Service recently announced that they were set to begin the sale of the bags of rice that were seized. It was gathered that a 25kg bag of rice was sold for N10,000 by the NCS. The rice was to help the masses cushion the effect of the current economic hardship in the country.
In a statement released by the National Public Relations Officer of the NCS, Abdullahi Maiwada, ahead of the distribution exercise, he said that the distribution was in response to the rising cost of living in Nigeria. He also disclosed that before the rice is distributed to Nigerians, it would be certified fit for consumption.
However, there were reports of a stampede at the venue of the distribution which led to the d3ath of several people. The APC also said that one of its members d!ed as a result of the stampede.
The ruling party made the confirmation on Saturday in an obituary message released to mourn the late party member and the other Nigerians.
The Coordinator of FKL Ward E1, Lagos State of the APC, Oluwafemi Fadahunsi, and Secretary, Comrade Adebari Adewale, confirmed that Adebanjo was one of the seven persons who died during the stampede.
In the obituary released on Saturday, the party wrote, “It is with heavy hearts and regret we announce the painful death of one of our members in FKL WARD E1, Mrs Adebanjo Comfort Funmilayo of house number 104, Ibidun street by AKINHANMI street, Ojuelegba.
“She was among the 7 victims who died in the course of buying custom rice at Yaba.
“May God grant all the members of her family and all the residents of WARD E1 the fortitude to bear the irreplaceable loss.”