The number of deaths from yesterday’s stampede at a zakat venue in Bauchi state has risen to seven, the state Police Command said.
The Police Public relations officer in the state, SP Ahmed Mohammed Wakil while giving an update identified the deceased as Aisha Usman aged 13 years of Gwang Gwang Gwang, Sahura Abubakar ‘aged 55 years of Anguwan Bauchi.
Others include Aisha Ibrahim Abubakar aged 43 years of Kobi Street, 8 years old Khadija Isah of Karofi, Maryam Suleiman ‘aged 20 of Kandahar Bauchi, Maryam Shuaibu aged 16 years Gwang Gwang Gwang and 53 years old Hassana Saidu of Dutsen Tanshi.
Wakil said 6 were confirmed dead by medical Doctors at the ATBU Teaching Hospital Bauchi while one other died at home.
Recall that the police confirmed the death of four at a venue of the distribution of Zakat (almsgiving) by a Bauchi-based philanthropist, the Chairman of the AYM Shafa group of companies.
The crowd, largely made up of women, old and young, had gathered at the Jos Road headquarters of the Company as early as 7 am on Sunday for the distribution of the Zakat items.
A stampede is a situation in which a group of large animals suddenly start running in the same direction, especially because they are excited or frightened.
Although the term is most often applied to animals, there are cases of humans stampeding from danger too.
One method used for stopping a stampede is to turn the moving herd into itself so that it runs in wide circles, rather than running off a cliff or into a river.
The circle can be made smaller and smaller, eventually forcing the herd to slow down due to lack of space in which to run.
Tactics used to make the herd turn into itself include firing a pistol, which creates noise to make the leaders of the stampede turn.
By Lizzy Carr
