No fewer than three persons were confirmed dead and 21 others injured following a stampede during a humanitarian cash distribution exercise organized by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and UNICEF in Bama, Borno State.
According to eyewitnesses that Spoke to Zagazola Makama, the tragic incident occurred on May 15 at about 8:00 a.m. at Kasugula Primary School, one of the designated payment centres in Bama. A large crowd had gathered at the location to receive a flat-rate cash assistance of N28,500.
As the number of beneficiaries swelled, the situation spiraled out of control when the crowd surged toward the school gate, triggering a stampede that left several people trampled and injured.
Those who sustained injuries in the incident include Falmata Alhaji Modu, Falmata Modu, Tella Babagana Tujani, Bulama Yakime, Amina Mohammed, Mallam Akura, Fatima Bukar, Yagana Ibrahim, Fatima Mohammed, Fatima Abatcha, Zara Lawan, Inde Modu, and Aisha Abdullahi, all residents of Bama town.
Bukar Labddo, 60, of Bukar Tela Ward, was pronounced dead on arrival at the General Hospital in Bama.
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Hospital sources later confirmed that two more victims succumbed to their injuries while receiving treatment.
Security personnel were immediately deployed to the scene to restore order and assist in the evacuation of the injured to nearby medical facilities.
The body of the deceased has been released to his family for burial according to Islamic rites. The humanitarian agencies involved have yet to issue an official statement regarding the incident.
