APC member, six others die in rice auction stampede at Nigeria Customs office, Lagos, APC mourns

A stampede that broke out during the public sale of rice at the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Zone “A” office on Harvey Road in Yaba, Lagos, is said to have claimed the lives of seven people.

One of the casualties, Mrs. Comfort Adebanjo, an All Progressives Congress (APC) member in Surulere ward, was confirmed by the Lagos State chapter of the party.

Adebanjo and six other people died on Friday while trying to purchase grains that had been seized by the Customs in Yaba, Persecondnews gathered.

The product was offered for sale by the Federal Government at the Customs office for N10,000 per 25kg in order to mitigate the impact of the nation’s economic difficulties.

The APC confirmed Adebanjo’s passing on Saturday in an obituary published to mourn her and the other victims of the purported stampede that took place during the auction.

Customs PRO, Abdullahi Maiwada, said in a statement that the sales were intended to support food security and lessen the strain brought on by the skyrocketing price of necessities in the nation.

Adebanjo was one of the seven people that perished in the stampede, according to confirmation from Oluwafemi Fadahunsi, the Coordinator of FKL Ward E1 of the Lagos State APC, and Adebari Adewale, the Secretary.

In an obituary the party released on Saturday, it wrote: “It is with heavy hearts and regret that 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 seven victims who died in the course of buying Customs 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.”