Four women were tragically killed in a stampede during zakat (almsgiving) distribution to residents in Bauchi state.
At 10:20 a.m. on Sunday, the incident occured at the Shafa Holdings Company headquarters situated along Jos road in Bauchi.
Ahmed Wakil, police spokesperson in Bauchi, who confirmed the development to newsmen, said a 17-year-old girl sustained injuries during the stampede.
Wakil added that the injured girl is currently receiving treatment at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital in the state.
"Today at about 10:20 00 hrs, the command received a distress call at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital in Bauchi by a good Samaritan indicating that five women were brought to the hospital unconscious,” the police spokesperson said.
"On receipt of the report, the commissioner of police Bauchi state command CP Auwal Musa Muhammad, instructed and directed the area commander and the rapid response squad and Mopol, that is the crowd controlling unit of the command, to mobilise and move swiftly to the scene of the crime.
“On reaching the scene of the crime, they evacuated those people to the hospital where it was confirmed that four among the victims were certified dead by a medical doctor.
"A lady by the name Naimah, 17-year-old from the Zango area in Bauchi was the only person alive and still receiving treatment.
“The commissioner of police has brought the situation under control and people are free to go about their normal activities. However, the commissioner of police frowned at the way and manner the Zakat is being organised without the standard operation procedure of the police.”
Wakil urged the public to notify the police before organizing events that gather large crowds in one location for better crowd control.
He expressed condolences to the families of those who lost their lives, and mentioned that an investigation is underway to
determine the circumstances that led to the stampede.
