- Nine feared dead, many injured in Sokoto stampede at Senator Wamakko’s residence during Sallah palliatives distribution
- Security agencies maintain silence despite the severity of the incident; stampede occurred late Thursday night, causing tragic casualties
Tragedy struck in Sokoto as nine individuals are feared dead, with several others sustaining injuries in a stampede reportedly occurring at the residence of Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko during the distribution of Sallah palliatives.
Despite the severity of the incident, relevant security agencies have maintained silence, refraining from issuing official statements.
The unfortunate event is said to have transpired late Thursday night.
One of the casualties was identified as Fatima Bala, a volunteer operative of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) stationed at the Gawon Nama office.
A colleague, speaking anonymously, revealed that Fatima lost her life while attempting to rescue a young boy trapped in the chaos of the stampede. Despite successfully saving the child, she succumbed to the overwhelming crowd.
Another officer confirmed the tragic occurrence and disclosed that Fatima was no longer an active member of their team but had visited the area to meet a friend.
“Our investigation indicates that she was in the vicinity to visit a friend. Unfortunately, she became one of the casualties in the stampede,” the officer stated.
Both the spokespeople for the Sokoto state commands of the NSCDC and the police have opted not to comment on the incident.
In response to the calamity, the state’s main opposition party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), has called upon the police to conduct a thorough investigation to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Reports from the Sokoto Specialist Hospital affirm that several victims have been admitted for treatment, highlighting the severity of the stampede’s repercussions.