Tragedy struck at Nasarawa State University, Keffi, as two female students lost their lives in a stampede that erupted during the distribution of palliatives by the Nasarawa State government at the university’s convocation square on Friday. The incident also left several students injured, with varying degrees of severity.
According to a source within the university, the stampede occurred due to the overwhelming crowd at the venue, leading to suffocation and ultimately the deaths of the two female students. Healthcare workers at the scene confirmed their demise.
Yunusa Baduku, the National President of the Nasarawa State Students Association, lamented the unfortunate turn of events, highlighting the chaos that ensued as students surged forward to receive the distributed rice. He reported that many students, especially females, sustained injuries and suffocation due to the sheer volume of people at the convocation square.
Baduku disclosed that affected students were promptly rushed to nearby hospitals for urgent medical attention. Regrettably, he confirmed the death of one student and indicated that others were receiving treatment for their injuries, though the exact number of casualties was yet to be determined.
Despite the tragedy, Baduku commended the swift response of the university’s management, student leaders, and representatives of the state government in providing assistance to the affected students and facilitating their medical care.
It’s worth noting that the distribution of palliatives by the state government was part of efforts to alleviate the economic hardships faced by students amid challenging times. The State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, had recently initiated similar distributions to students of other educational institutions in the state.
