Ondo State government rose from one of its closed-door meetings to issue stern crowd control directives aimed at regulating public gatherings and avoiding wanton destruction of lives and property in the state.

Ondo Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr. Olukayode Ajulo, issued the directive in response to tragedies that occurred in various parts of the country, when almost 100 persons were killed during the stampede.

According to him, the directives are based on powers vested in the Attorney General under Section 195 of the Constitution of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), Sections 62 and 95 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Ondo State 2015, and Sections 2 and 4 of the Nigeria Police Act 2020.

The directives stressed the importance of proactive measures, such as communication protocols, venue accessibility, use of drones, CCTV, and availability of security personnel, among others.
The Attorney General warned that any violations of the directives might result in legal action against the organizers or participants.

“These crowd control measures are a testament to Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa’s commitment to fostering a secure environment for public gatherings in Ondo State. Stakeholders are advised to familiarize themselves with the directives to avoid legal repercussions and contribute to a safer society,” Ajulo said.

Dr. Ajulo explained that the directives also called for enhanced collaboration between event organisers, law enforcement agencies, and local government authorities. He said the measures were designed to protect lives and property and urged full compliance from all parties involved.