Death toll in Bauchi zakat stampede rises to seven, say police

The death toll from the stampede that occurred during the distribution of zakat (almsgiving) to residents of Bauchi State has risen to seven.

Persecondnews recalls that a businessman in the northeastern state had invited residents to come forward to collect N5,000 each on Sunday before the unfortunate incident.

The state police spokesman, ASP Ahmed Wakil, confirmed the deaths of four women in the incident, which included an eight-year-old girl.

According to him, the tragic incident occurred about 10:20 a.m. on Sunday at the Shafa Holdings Company headquarters along Jos Road in Bauchi.

Wakil said: “Today at about 10:20 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.

“On receipt of the report, the Commissioner of Police, Bauchi State Command, CP Auwal Musa Muhammad, instructed and directed the Area Commander, the Rapid Response Squad, and Mopol, which is the crowd-control unit of the command, to mobilize 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 of the victims were certified dead by a medical doctor.

“The medical doctor at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH) confirmed that two more women died at the hospital among those brought for treatment.

“The other woman was conveyed home by her family, but she died at home. More details will be made available to the public as the command receives them.”