- Femi Falana criticizes security agencies for negligence in preventing the avoidable petrol tanker explosion, emphasizing the need for accountability
- Falana calls for proactive measures from authorities to secure accident sites and protect vulnerable citizens from preventable disasters
Renowned human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has criticized security and emergency agencies for their failure to prevent Saturday’s petrol tanker explosion at Dikko Junction in Gurara Local Government Area of Niger State.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today last night, Falana described the tragedy as avoidable, attributing it to negligence by the authorities.
“The basic fact regarding this avoidable tragedy is the lack of adequate measures by the authorities to prevent the explosion,” he said. “The government and agencies responsible for disaster prevention need to be more proactive.”
Falana argued that the immediate cause of the disaster was a failure of intelligence and security protocols. He emphasized the responsibility of security forces to secure such sites to prevent accidents.
“When a tanker falls anywhere in the country, security forces are expected to cordon off the area and prevent anyone from approaching until the tanker is safely removed,” he explained.
Falana further noted that poverty and ignorance often drive people to such dangerous situations. However, he stressed the importance of accountability to deter future occurrences.
“If we fail to set a precedent, these tragedies will persist. We cannot continue to let poor people suffer from systemic failures,” he warned.
The lawyer called on authorities to take decisive action to prevent similar incidents and protect vulnerable citizens from preventable disasters.
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