ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA) –Seven people have so far reportedly died from the stampede that occurred during an alms exercise in Bauchi State.
The stampede occurred at Shafa Holdings Company Plc headquarters along Jos Road at about 10 a.m., on Sunday.
It was gathered that the incident occurred when the company was holding its annual Zakat exercise, otherwise known as almsgiving, to help the less privileged in the state.
Meanwhile, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Ahmed Wakili, said the situation has been stabilised.
Wakili said, “The command received a distress call at about 10.20am from Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital Bauchi, indicating that five people were brought to the hospital unconscious due to the stampede, a call we received from a Good Samaritan. Upon receiving the call, the Commissioner of Police, Musa Mohammed, directed the area commander to the scene of the crime.
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“We have cordoned off the place and evacuated those injured to the hospital. In the process, five people were in the hospital, but four were confirmed dead by medical doctors. The exercise is a Zakat exercise that was given to the less privileged by Shafa Holding Company along Jos Road; that is the major cause of the stampede.”
However, giving an update on the incident on Monday, Wakili stated that three other women have lost their lives.
The police boss noted that two women died at the Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, and the third woman died at home.
The deceased are Aisha Usman, aged 13; Sahura Abubakar, aged 55; Aisha Ibrahim Abubakar, aged 43; Kobi Street Bauchi; and Khadija Isah, aged 8; Karofi Bauchi.
Others are Maryam Suleiman, aged 20, of Kandahar Bauchi; Maryam Shuibu, aged 16, of Gwang Gwan Gwan Bauchi; and Hassana Saidu, aged 53, of Dutsen Tanshi Bauchi.