A tragic stampede at the Gombe main Eid Ground on Sunday morning resulted in the deaths of two young children and left several others injured, the state police command has confirmed.
The incident occurred at approximately 10:45 AM at the exit gate of the Eid Ground shortly after the conclusion of the Eid prayer.
A large crowd, mainly women and children, hurried to leave the venue, and the resulting congestion, worsened by the intense heat, led to a stampede.
DSP Buhari Abdullahi, the Police Public Relations Officer, disclosed in a statement that 22 people were affected by the incident.
“Emergency responders quickly evacuated 15 victims to Zainab Bulkachuwa Hospital, while seven others were transported to the Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe, for medical attention,” Abdullahi stated.
Unfortunately, two girls, identified as Aisha Salisu Ahmed, aged 4½, and Maryam Abdullahi Gwani, aged 4, succumbed to their injuries while receiving treatment.
In a show of support, Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, CON, has pledged to cover the medical expenses of all those receiving treatment.
The police urged better management of crowd movements at the Eid Ground to prevent similar incidents in the future.
“All entrance and exit gates should be opened to allow free movement of worshippers, especially after prayers,” the police statement added.