By David Odama
Two students of Nasarawa State University, Keffi, have been reportedly killed in a stampede. They were struggling for rice meant to be distributed as palliative by the state government.
The students were said to have broken into the warehouse where the food items were kept to be distributed Friday morning. They overpowered the security attached to the institution at about 5 a.m., and broke into the warehouse.
Vanguard correspondent gathered that some students billed to benefit from the Nasarawa state government palliative were issued ID cards. This would admit them into the venue of distribution.
However, on Friday, at the NSUK convocation square venue for the distribution, two female students were reported dead due to suffocation in the crowd. Some others were left with varying degrees of injuries.
Video: Seven students feared dead in Nasarawa rice stampede
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Credit: X // Mazi_Chinonzo pic.twitter.com/7RklaaSyK5
Governor reacts
Following the incident, Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa has called for an investigation into the stampede that claimed two students’ lives.
The governor, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Ibrahim Addra, expressed sadness over the deaths of the students.
The statement read in part: “These young people’s lives cut short at their prime under such circumstances is painful.
”The governor has since directed the authorities of the Nasarawa State University, Keffi and security agencies to commence an immediate investigation into the unfortunate occurrence to unveil those behind it.
”Engr. Sule had come up with the widely applauded initiative to distribute rice and N5,000 cash each to students in all tertiary institutions in the state.
”Such distribution was a huge success. It was peacefully carried out by Federal University, Lafia; Isa Mustapha Agwai Polytechnic, Lafia; and College of Agriculture, Science and Technology, Lafia.
“Also at the School of Nursing, Lafia, as well as the College of Education, Akwanga.
”Others are the Federal Polytechnic, Nassarawa, and the College of Health Technology, Keffi,” the statement added.
Meanwhile, the state deputy governor, Dr. Emmanuel Akabe, also visited those who sustained injuries.
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