The All Progressives Congress has confirmed the death of one of its members, Comfort Adebanjo, and six others who attempted to purchase seized rice put up for sale by the Nigeria Customs Service to help alleviate the country’s economic misery.
The ruling party confirmed the news on Saturday in an obituary statement sent to mourn the late party member and other Nigerians.
Customs claims it has completed plans to begin direct distribution of seized food goods to Nigerians in response to the country’s rising cost of living.
Abdullahi Maiwada, the service’s National Public Relations Officer, confirmed this in a statement issued on Tuesday.
Maiwada said that the move was in response to the critical challenges of food security and the soaring cost of essential food items in the country.
He added that the items must be certified fit for consumption before they could be distributed to Nigerians.
However, there was a stampede on Friday, which led to the death of seven persons.
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.”