Two female students of Nasarawa State University, Keffi, have reportedly died following a stampede that occurred at the university’s convocation square on Friday.
The Nasarawa State Government distributed palliatives to students at the convocation square.
According to a university source, the two female students were confirmed dead as a result of the stampede, which injured others to varying degrees.
“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, told reporters 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 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 were 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.
“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.”
However, Baduku praised the Nasarawa State University’s administration, student leaders, and state government representatives for their rapid response in supporting the students in seeking medical assistance.
“I want to commend the school management, the student leaders, and even the state government for standing by us at a time like this. They are all doing their best to address the situation and ensure that normalcy returns to the school environment,” he said.
Abdullahi Sule, the State Governor, recently gave two 7.5 kg sacks of rice and N5,000 to each student at the Federal University of Lafia, Isa Mustapha Agwai Polytechnic in Lafia, and the College of Education in Akwanga.
