Hardship: 2 students die at Nasarawa varsity rice stampede
Gov Sule orders probe
Two female students of the Nasarawa State University, Keffi, yesterday lost their lives following a stampede at the school’s convocation square during the distribution of rice palliatives by the government.
Daily Trust Saturday reports that the distribution of palliatives to the students by the Nasarawa State Government was targeted at ameliorating their suffering.
An eyewitness informed our correspondent that two female students were confirmed dead due to the stampede, which left others with various degrees of injury.
“What we are hearing now is that two female students have died. They were said to have been suffocated because of the crowd and later declared dead by health care workers,” the witness said.
Confirming the incident, the national president of the Nasarawa State Students Association, Yunusa Yusuf Baduku, told our correspondent that most of the students involved in the stampede had been rushed to hospitals in the area for medical attention.
“Seriously, what happened this morning at the Nasarawa State University is uncalled for and very pathetic.
“After our arrangement for the distribution of palliatives to the students, which was to hold at the university’s convocation square, they suddenly arrived at the venue in their numbers and overpowered the security.
“They broke through the gate into the convocation square, where the bags of rice were to be shared. Unfortunately, most of our female students sustained several degrees of injury while others got suffocated because of the population at the venue,” he said.
Baduku, however, appreciated the university’s management, student leaders and representatives of the state government for their prompt action in assisting the students to get quick medical attention.
Governor Sule mourns, sets up panel to probe incident
Meanwhile, the Nasarawa State governor, Abdullahi Sule, has set up an investigation panel to look into the unfortunate stampede that led to the death of two students of the university.
He directed the vice chancellor of the university, Professor Suleiman BalaMohammed and his entire management, including the security agencies that were on ground during the stampede to, as a matter of urgency, commence full investigation into the cause of the stampede.
The governor, in a statement signed by his chief press secretary, Ibrahim Addra, stated, “The unfortunate incident occurred when suspected hoodlums and some misguided students forced their way into the school’s convocation ground to cart away the rice kept at the venue meant for distribution as palliatives to students.”
He said Governor Sule, who was deeply touched over the unfortunate tragic incident that led to the death of two students of the institution, said anybody found having direct link to the stampede would be arrested and prosecuted accordingly to serve as deterrent to others.
Meanwhile, the vice chancellor of the university, Professor Suleiman BalaMohammed, who confirmed the incident to journalists, confirmed the death of the two students.
Commenting on the incident through his X handle, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in last year’s election, Mr Peter Obi, recalled that just a month ago, seven Nigerians lost their lives in a similar sad situation in Lagos.