At least, three people have been confirmed dead and several others injured in a stampede at the Niger State Government House in Minna on Tuesday evening.
The incident occurred when a crowd gathered at the Government House in an effort by state officials to engage youths over their plans to protest the recent deaths of 37 suspected artisanal miners in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
An eyewitness also said the stampede was caused by overcrowding by some youths who had gathered to collect money.
According to the account, a crowd had assembled elsewhere but were directed to the Government House after their numbers grew too large to be controlled at the courthouse when word spread that the governor was coming and that money would be shared.
People, including the eyewitness’s group, made their way there. Upon arrival, the gates were locked, with people pressing against those outside. Then the order came that the gates should be opened and when this was done,there was a surge ‘as if 10 areas in Minna’ had emptied into the compound’, the eyewitness recounted.
Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago arrived briefly, addressed the crowd, and directed that distribution of money should begin at the gates. Chaos followed.
A downpour with strong winds prompted everyone to run for cover but after the rain eased, long queues remained, including children and women carrying babies making the effort to leave the premises difficult.
Later, officials announced that the distribution of cash had been stopped and ordered everyone to leave. The eyewitness learnt that at least two people had died; hospital confirmation and other reports later raised the toll to three.
Among the dead were a mother and her daughter: Dije and Hulaira, who were internally displaced persons(IDPs) from Allawa community in Shiroro Local Government Area. Hulaira’s husband, Abubakar, a butcher, had been killed by bandits in 2023 on Allawa-Pandogari Road. She later relocated to Minna as an IDP.
Dije, who had been living with her husband in Gurmana as an IDP, was visiting her daughter when the pair heard that money was being distributed at the Government House and joined the crowd. Some reports stated that N29,000 was found on the woman’s body. The two were laid to rest at Anguwan Daji Cemetery yesterday morning.
Eyewitnesses noted that a large number of people were taken for medical attention, with ambulances from the Government House making multiple trips from the scene.
Families whose relatives attended the gathering and had not returned or could not be reached were advised to make enquiries at the General Hospital, Minna, as some injured persons may have been without identification.
The Chief Press Secretary to the governor and state Police Command spokesperson said statements would be issued soon.