Community head laments loss of daughter, grandchild to Bauchi stampede
A77- YEAR- OLD community head of Kobi, Muhammadu Bello, has lamented the loss of his 43- year- old daughter and eight- year- old granddaughter to the Bauchi stampede. Muhammadu, the Maiangwan Kobi, a community head in the heart of Bauchi metropolis, said their demise would remain in his heart. Recall that eight residents of Bauchi died in a stampede on Sunday morning when a philanthropist, AYM Shafa doled out Zakat for Ramadan fasting.
The deceased, mostly women, died in the process of struggling to receive the money – N10, 000.
While the Police confirmed the death of seven people, Chairman of the Zakat distribution, Prof. Ahmed Mohammed, on behalf of AYM Shafa Foundation, said they have visited eight families who lost their loved ones to the tragedy.
Narrating his experience with The Guardian, the Septuagenarian said: “I was sad when they brought the news that my daughter Aisha and granddaughter died in the stampede.
"They went to collect a palliative from Shafa. They came to me in the morning and informed me that they were going to Shafa to collect Zakat.
“The news was a painful one but I have left it in God's hand. He is the one that gave them to me and he is the one that has taken them. That’s all. "My advice is that whenever people want to do justice to the people, they should collaborate with those in authority, and seek their assistance.
“I served the Nigerian Army for many years before my retirement. I have never known anything called palliatives. We used to buy food at subsidised rates but now it has become expensive. We are not blaming anybody for what is presently happening in Nigeria but the government of the day should be held accountable. They are the ones that brought about this food crisis,” Bello said.
Meanwhile, the Zakat Distribution Committee has blamed the crowd for the incident, saying most of the people who thronged the venue were not invited.
“We have earmarked N40 million to be shared with the people. We realised that many of them were struggling to collect first and in the process, they were pushing themselves and the ugly incident happened. “When I heard that some people have died, we quickly suspended the sharing,” Prof Mohammed said.