Three killed, 21 injured in stampede during cash distribution in Borno

Three people reportedly died and 21 others were injured in a stampede during a cash disbursement in Bama LGA of Borno state.

Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication focused on the Lake Chad region, said the humanitarian exercise was organised by the Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS) and the United Nations International Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

The publication said the stampede occurred at about 8am on Thursday at Kasugula Primary School— one of the designated payment centres in the LGA.

Makama noted that the beneficiaries had gathered to receive flat-rate cash assistance of N28,500, before the crowd went out of control and surged toward the school gate, resulting in a stampede.

The publication identified those who sustained varying degrees of injuries to include Falmata Modu, Tella Tujani, Bulama Yakime, Amina Mohammed, Mallam Akura, Fatima Bukar, Yagana Ibrahim, Fatima Mohammed, Fatima Abatcha, Zara Lawan, Inde Modu, and Aisha Abdullahi.

Makama said one of the deceased, identified as 60-year-old Bukar Labddo of Bukar Tela ward, was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital, while the other two died later while undergoing treatment.

The publication said order has been restored to the area following the deployment of security operatives to the scene, adding that the bodies of the deceased have been released to their families for burial.