No fewer than four women have been confirmed dead at the venue of the distribution of Zakaat by a Bauchi based philanthropist, the Chairยญman of AYM Shafa Group of Companies.
According to reports, crowd, largely women, old and young, married, unยญmarried and divorcees had gathered at the Jos road headquarters of the compaยญny as early as 7a.m on Sunยญday for the distribution of the Zakaat items.
It was gathered that the exercise started smoothly as the beneficiaries were called in groups to receive the items until the others became restless and appreยญhensive leading to struggle to get into the main premยญises.
In the process, a stampede ensued as the women tried to force themselves inside while in the process, many of them fell on the ground and were trampled upon leading to the casualties.
They were rushed to the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospiยญtal (ATBUTH), Bauchi, for medical attention where those who died were conยญfirmed dead.
While confirming the development, state Police Command PPRO, SP Ahmed Wakili, said that the comยญmand received a distress call from ATBUTH on the people being rushed there for mediยญcal attention.
According to him, โOn receiving the distress call, the Commissioner of Police, Auwal Musa Mohammed, immediately directed for urgent action directing for mobilisation of personnel to the scene for action.
โOn getting to the scene, the police operatives joined in the rescue operations, corยญdoned off the area in order to prevent further casualยญties while the exercise was stopped.
โThe victims were rushed to the ATBUTH unconยญscious after which a medical doctor confirmed that four of them were dead. Others including a 17-year old girl are currently receiving treatment at the hospitalโ, he PPRO said.
According to him, the command frowns at such development which puts the lives of people at risk considยญering the present economic situation in the country.
He added that the comยญmand is appealing to indiยญviduals and organisations that have plans of embarkยญing on such to adequately inยญform the command in order to mobilise personnel to the venue for effective crowd control.
All efforts to get official confirmation and reactions from the management of AYM Shafa on the developยญment proved abortive as no official was available to talk to journalists at the office. (Independent)