Nasarawa Governor mourns loss of students in palliative stampede
Story from Abubakar KADO
Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, has expressed deep sorrow following the tragic deaths of two students from Nasarawa State University Keffi (NSUK) in a stampede incident.
The unfortunate event occurred when a group of students, accompanied by suspected hoodlums, stormed the university’s convocation square, resulting in the fatalities of the students.
Sule, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary(CPS), Ibrahim Addra, and made available to newsmen in Lafia, condoled with the families of the deceased students, the injured and the management of the university over the sad incident.
According to the statement, the news of the stampede came as a rude shock to the governor, a few hours after the flag-off of the distribution exercise.
“The sad incident occurred when suspected hoodlums and some misguided students forced their way into the school’s convocation ground to cart away the rice kept at the venue meant for distribution as palliatives to students,” it said.
It further stated that Gov. Sule had come up with the widely applauded initiative to distribute rice and N5,000 cash to students in all tertiary institutions in the state to cushion the economic hardship
READ ALSO: Seven students feared dead in Nasarawa rice stampede
He noted that the distribution had been successful and peaceful in all other tertiary institutions in the state and wondered why it was different at the state university.
“Similar exercise was carried out at the Federal University of Lafia, Isa Mustapha Agwai Polytechnic Lafia, College of Agriculture, Science and Technology, Lafia, School of Nursing Lafia as well as the College of Education Akwanga.
“It was also done peacefully at the Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa and the College of Health Technology Keffi.
“It’s unfortunate that the lives of the young students were cut short in a needless stampede motivated by crime,” he said.
The statement further said that the governor had directed the management of the institution and the security agencies to investigate to unravel the immediate and remote cause of the incident.
“Those found to be involved in any way will be apprehended and prosecuted accordingly,” it added.
The statement, however, called on the people to remain calm as the government would continue in its effort to ameliorate the hardship being faced by the students and other vulnerable groups.
Governor Sule, through his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Ibrahim Addra, conveyed heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased students, the injured individuals, and the university’s management.
The governor was reportedly shocked by the news of the stampede, which occurred shortly after the commencement of the palliative distribution exercise.
According to the statement released, the incident unfolded as suspected hoodlums and misguided students forcefully accessed the convocation ground, intending to seize the rice designated for distribution as palliatives.
