No fewer than nine persons died while 30 others various injuries yesterday in a stampede during the distribution of palliative at the residence of the Senator representing Sokoto North in the National Assembly, Aliyu Wamakko, in the Gawon Nama area of Sokoto State.
Confirming the stampede, a senior officer of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Sokoto State Command, said no fewer than nine persons died, including an official of the command, adding that 30 others sustained various degrees of injury.
Also speaking, the Sokoto State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in a statement issued by its Publicity Secretary, Hassan Sahabi Sanyinnawal, said the incident occurred during the distribution of Sallah items by Wamakko at his Sokoto residence.
The PDP noted: “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 spraying of cash on the street and dehumanizing exercise of sharing out cheap items, at the cost of their safety.”
The party, therefore, demanded the payment of compensation to the families of those who allegedly lost their lives and others who were injured during the incident.
