BREAKING: Seven Nasarawa University Students Reportedly Die In Stampede Over Palliatives
At least seven students from Nasarawa State University, Keffi, have tragically lost their lives in an attempt to access the state government’s palliatives.
It was reported that the unfortunate incident occurred at the university’s convocation square on Friday morning during the distribution of the palliatives.
Details surrounding the incident remain unclear at the moment. According to a source from the university, as cited by The PUNCH, two female students lost their lives in the chaos, while others
sustained varying degrees of injuries.
“What we are hearing now is that two female students have died. They were said to have been suffocated because of the crowd and they were later declared dead by the healthcare
workers,” the source reportedly said.
Confirming the incident, the National President of the Nasarawa State Students Association, Yunusa Baduku, told journalists that most of the students involved in the stampede had been rushed
to hospitals in the area for medical attention.
He said, “Seriously, what happened this morning at the Nasarawa State University, Keffi, is uncalled for, and very pathetic.
“After we arranged for the distribution of palliatives to the students, which was to be held at the University’s convocation square, they (students) suddenly arrived at the venue in their
numbers and overpowered the security.
“They broke through the gate into the Convocation square where the bags of rice was to be shared.
“Unfortunately, most of our female students sustained several degrees of injuries, while others got suffocated because of the population at the venue for the distribution of the palliatives.
“Right now, I am at the Federal Medical Centre Keffi, where we brought some of our students for emergency treatment.
“Also, as National President of NASA, I got an official report that one student has died as a result of the unfortunate incident.
“I cannot confirm the number of injured at the moment because some are at the school’s clinic while others are here at the FMC, Keffi, receiving treatment.”
Contrarily, Vanguard has stated that the incident resulted in the unfortunate deaths of seven students. The news platform revealed that the students unlawfully entered the warehouse where the
food supplies were stored for distribution on Friday morning. They managed to overpower the security personnel assigned to the institution at around 5 a.m. and forcefully gained entry to the
warehouse in search of palliative items.
Furthermore, the report mentioned that certain students who were eligible to receive the Nasarawa state government’s palliative aid were provided with identification cards to facilitate their
access to the distribution venue.
Additionally, it was reported that well before 5 a.m., the students had already taken control of the area, overpowering the security personnel and forcefully entering the warehouse. This resulted in
a chaotic situation.
