TheCable

Four women have been confirmed killed in a stampede that occurred during the distribution of zakat (almsgiving exercise) to residents in Bauchi state.

The incident occurred at about 10:20 a.m. on Sunday at the Shafa Holdings Company headquarters along Jos road in Bauchi.

Ahmed Wakil, police spokesperson in Bauchi, who confirmed the development to TheCable, said a 17-year-old girl sustained injuries during the stampede.

Wakil said the injured girl is currently receiving treatment at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital in the state.

“Today at about 10:20 00 hrs, the command received a distress call at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital in Bauchi by a good Samaritan indicating that five women were brought to the hospital unconscious,” the police spokesperson said.

“On receipt of the report, the commissioner of police Bauchi state command CP Auwal Musa Muhammad, instructed and directed the area commander and the rapid response squad and Mopol, that is the crowd controlling unit of the command, to mobilise and move swiftly to the scene of the crime.

“On reaching the scene of the crime, they evacuated those people to the hospital where it was confirmed that four among the victims were certified dead by a medical doctor.

“A lady by the name Naimah, 17-year-old from the Zango area in Bauchi was the only person alive and still receiving treatment.

“The commissioner of police has brought the situation under control and people are free to go about their normal activities. However, the commissioner of police frowned at the way and manner the Zakat is being organised without the standard operation procedure of the police.”

Wakil asked members of the public to inform the police before embarking on activities that assemble a huge crowd of people in one place for proper control.

He condoled with the family of those who lost their lives, adding that an investigation is ongoing to determine the circumstances that led to the stampede.