….Gov. Sule orders probe into stampede
No fewer than two female students of Nasarawa State University, Keffi, have reportedly died following a stampede that occurred at the university’s convocation square on Friday.
The convocation square was the venue for the distribution of palliatives to the students by the Nasarawa State government.
A source within the university told PUNCH Online that two female students have been confirmed dead as a result of the stampede which left others with several degrees of injuries.
“What we are hearing now is that two female students have died. They were said to have been suffocated because of the crowd and they were later declared dead by the healthcare workers,” the source said.
Confirming the incident, the National President of the Nasarawa State Students Association, Yunusa Baduku, told PUNCH Online that most of the students involved in the stampede had been rushed to hospitals in the area for medical attention.
He said, “Seriously, what happened this morning at the Nasarawa State University, Keffi, 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 (students) 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 was to be shared.
“Unfortunately, most of our female students sustained several degrees of injuries, while others got suffocated because of the population at the venue for the distribution of the palliatives.
“Right now, I am at the Federal Medical Centrw Keffi, where we brought some of our students for emergency treatment.
“Also, as National President of NASA, I got an official report that one student has died as a result of the unfortunate incident.
“For the numbers of those injured, I cannot confirm that at the moment because some of them are at the school’s clinic while others are here at the FMC, Keffi receiving treatment.”
Baduku, however, commended 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.
“I want to commend the school management, the student leaders and even the state government for standing by us at a time like this. They are all doing their best to address the situation, and to ensure that normalcy returns to the school environment,” he said.
Sule orders probe into Nasarawa varsity stampede
Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule has called for an investigation into the stampede that claimed two lives at the Nasarawa State University, Keffi, on Friday.
The state government had initiated the distribution of palliatives to students across the state.
“What we are hearing now is that two female students have died. They were said to have been suffocated because of the crowd and they were later declared dead by the healthcare workers,” the source told PUNCH Online.
However, on Friday, at the NSUK convocation square – the venue for the distribution, two female students were reported dead due to suffocation in the crowd and some others were left with varying degrees of injuries.
Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule has called for an investigation into the stampede that claimed two lives at the Nasarawa State University, Keffi, on Friday.
The state government had initiated the distribution of palliatives to students across the state.
“What we are hearing now is that two female students have died. They were said to have been suffocated because of the crowd and they were later declared dead by the healthcare workers,” the source told PUNCH Online.
However, on Friday, at the NSUK convocation square – the venue for the distribution, two female students were reported dead due to suffocation in the crowd and some others were left with varying degrees of injuries.
“These young people’s lives cut short at their prime under such circumstances is painful”.
”The governor has since directed the authorities of the Nasarawa State University, Keffi and security agencies to commence an immediate investigation into the unfortunate occurrence to unveil those behind it.”
The state deputy governor, Dr. Emmanuel Akabe, also visited those who sustained injuries.
”Engr. Sule had come up with the widely applauded initiative to distribute rice and N5,000 cash each to students in all tertiary institutions in the state,
”Such distribution was a huge success and peacefully carried out by Federal University, Lafia, Isa Mustapha Agwai Polytechnic, Lafia, College of Agriculture, Science and Technology, Lafia, the School of Nursing, Lafia as well as the College of Education, Akwanga.
”Others are the Federal Polytechnic, Nassarawa and the College of Health Technology, Keffi,” the statement added.
THE PUNCH
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