Two female students of Nasarawa State University, Keffi have reportedly died and 23 others injured following a stampede that occurred at the university’s convocation square on Friday.
A source within the university disclosed that two female students have been confirmed dead as a result of the stampede which left others with several 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 said.
Confirming the incident, the National President of the Nasarawa State Students Association, Yunusa Baduku, stated that most of the students involved in the stampede had been rushed to hospitals in the area for medical attention.
“Seriously, what happened this morning at the Nasarawa State University, Keffi, is uncalled for, and very pathetic.
“After our arrangement for the distribution of palliatives to the students which was to hold at the University’s convocation square, they 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.
READ ALSO: Gov Alia set to unfreeze state accounts, constitute minimum wage committee
“Right now, I am at the Federal Medical Center Keffi, where we brought some of our students for emergency treatment.
“Also, as National President of NASA, I got an official report that two students have died as a result of the unfortunate incident.
“For the numbers of those injured, I cannot confirm that at the moment because some of them are at the school’s clinic while others are here at the FMC, Keffi receiving treatment,” he said.
Baduku, however, commended the university’s management, student leaders and representatives of the state government for their prompt action in assisting the students to get quick medical attention.
The Head of Information of the school, Abraham Habu who confirmed the numbers of the injured student to be 23 stated that the palliatives were billed for distribution at the convocation arena of the school before some students overpowered the security on the ground, causing a stampede that resulted in the death and injuries of the students while they carted away the food items.
He added that normalcy has returned and the 23 students are receiving medical attention.
The Nasarawa State government had early in the week launched the distribution of palliatives to students of tertiary institutions in the state.
Nine thousand students from the tertiary institutions in Lafia and Akwanga have benefited from the distribution earlier.
