A tragic incident unfolded at Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK) on Friday morning, resulting in the loss of lives among students who were scrambling for a 7.5 kg bag of rice donated by the state government as palliatives to alleviate hunger.
The stampede occurred at the university’s convocation ground in Keffi, as students broke into a warehouse where the food items were stored for distribution.
Reports indicate that students overwhelmed the security personnel stationed at the institution and forcefully gained access to the warehouse around 5 a.m., leading to a chaotic scene of people scrambling for the palliative rice. The rush resulted in a stampede, causing fatalities and injuries among the students.
Dr. Usman Ahmed, the head of medical services at the Federal Medical Center Keffi, confirmed that two students lost their lives, while 17 others, predominantly female, sustained injuries during the incident.
However, conflicting reports suggest that the number of casualties may be higher, with some sources indicating more than two fatalities.
National President of the Nasarawa State Students Association, Yunusa Yusuf Baduku, corroborated the account, describing the incident as “terrible, pathetic, very bad, and uncalled for.”
He reported that injured students were receiving medical attention at various hospitals, although he could not provide precise figures for the casualties.
Meanwhile, Governor Abdullahi Sule expressed shock and regret over the stampede, describing it as a misfortune that occurred shortly before the scheduled distribution of palliatives.
He attributed the incident to suspected hoodlums and misguided students who forcibly accessed the venue with intentions to pilfer the rice.
The governor extended condolences to the families and friends of the deceased students, pledging that those responsible for the stampede would be apprehended and prosecuted accordingly.
Despite the tragic event, Governor Sule affirmed the state government’s commitment to continuing the distribution of palliatives to alleviate the hardship faced by students and the broader populace.
In response to the incident, Governor Sule directed the university authorities and security agencies to launch an immediate investigation to uncover the circumstances behind the stampede.
The state government had initiated the distribution of palliatives, including 7.5 kilograms of rice, to students across institutions in the state capital, Lafia, earlier in the week.
The heartbreaking stampede underscores the challenges faced by students and the imperative of ensuring orderly and safe distribution processes for relief materials during times of crisis.