An unspecified number of residents have been crushed to death at the residence of the Senator representing Sokoto North Senatorial District, Aliyu Wamakko in Sokoto State, Nigeria.
The charity event that ended in tragedy, occurred after hoards of desperate residents arrived at the food distribution venue of Ramadan Iftar at Gawon Nama area, afterwards, it snowballed into chaos.
Iftar, is a yearly ritual fast-breaking evening meal of Muslims in Ramadan in line with the Islamic Calendar.
According to Leadership Newspaper said nine persons were fatally injured, while 30 others were injured at last weekend stampede.
Two separate statement by Peoples Democratic party, PDP and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC in the State confirmed the incident, but differ in the number of casualties.
Mr Hassan Sahabi Sanyinnawal, Publicity Secretary of Sokoto State Chapter of PDP said in a statement, expressed regret over the incident happened during the distribution of Sallah items by the former governor of the State, Senator Aliyu Wamakko’s residence.
The party solicited for payment of compensation to the families of those who allegedly lost their lives and others who were injured during the incident.
The statement reads, ”
“We learnt of the very unfortunate stampede at the residence of the Senator Representing Sokoto North, Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, at Gawon Nama area in Sokoto that resulted in the loss of lives and injuries during the distribution of Sallah items to crowds of people.
“We wish to express deep sadness over the incident and extend our heartfelt sympathies to the families of the no fewer than 10 people, who passed away, while praying for the recovery of victims, who sustained injuries at the scene of the regrettable occurrence.
“The PDP however, wishes to call on security agencies to launch a thorough investigation into the matter, with a view to forestalling the ugly incident in the future.
“This is not the first time it is happening at the same place, due to poor arrangements, without regard to the safety of human lives.
“Our party believes that the people deserve genuine dividends of democracy, that will take them out of poverty, rather than the occasional spray of cash on the street and dehumanizing exercise of sharing out cheap items, at the cost of their safety”.
Official of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps,.NSCDC who confirmed the incident to the Newspaper, alleged that the victims also include a female personnel of the corps attached to the Senator.
TheNewspad reports that the food distribution was however suspended after the tragic incident.
Emergency services were immediately activated to evacuate injured and dead by victims at the event, which was also confirmed by the spokesman of the Nigeria Police Command in Sokoto State, ASP Ahmad Rufai, to a hospital for urgent medical attention.
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