No fewer than four persons have been confirmed dead in a stampede at the distribution of alms by a philanthropist, Yakubu Maishanu, in Bauchi, the capital of Bauchi State.
Confirming the incident, the Bauchi State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Ahmed Wakil, disclosed that the incident occurred at the AYM Shafa Holdings Office, when hundreds of people gathered to collect alms from Maishanu on Sunday, March 24, 2024.
Wakil said the command received a distress call from the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH) in Bauchi about the victims being rushed to the facility for medical attention.
The police spokesman revealed that four females were confirmed dead by a medical doctor while others were receiving treatment at the hospital.
2 varsity students die in rice distribution stampede
He added: “The Commissioner of Police, Auwal Musa, directed urgent action and mobilised personnel to the scene.
“Police operatives joined the rescue operation and cordoned off the area to prevent further casualties while the exercise was stopped.”
Wakil urged individuals and organisations engaged in philanthropist and humanitarian services to report to the police and make adequate arrangements in their distribution exercises to forestall future occurrence.
The incident came barely two days after two students of the Nasarawa State University in Keffi died in a stampede when the students looted rice given for distribution by the state government.
It was gathered that the stampede occurred at the convocation square where the bags of rice were kept awaiting the arrival of Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, for the commencement of the distribution on Friday, March 22.
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