Nine trampled to death, 30 injured scrambling for food at Senator Wamakko’s Sokoto home
By Ishaya Ibrahim
Senator Aliyu Wamakko’s ‘generosity’ turned tragic on Saturday when a huge crowd surge at his Sokoto home resulted in a stampede that killed nine people and left 30 others injured.
The lawmaker, who is also a former governor of Sokoto State, has consequently been rebuked by the Sokoto State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which has called on security agencies in the state to probe the incident.
This is as a senior officer of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Sokoto State command, confirmed that no fewer than nine persons died including an official of the command while over 30 others sustained various degrees of injury, as per reporting by Leadership Newspaper
According to a statement signed by the publicity secretary of the PDP in the state, Hassan Sahabi Sanyinnawal, the party said the incident happened during the distribution of Sallah items by the former governor at his Sokoto residence.
“We learnt of the very unfortunate stampede at the residence of the Senator representing Sokoto North, Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, at Gawon Nama area in Sokoto that resulted in the loss of lives and injuries during the distribution of Sallah items to crowds of people.
“We wish to express deep sadness over the incident and extend our heartfelt sympathies to the families of the no fewer than 10 people, who passed away, while praying for the recovery of victims, who sustained injuries at the scene of the regrettable occurrence.
“The PDP however, wishes to call on security agencies to launch a thorough investigation into the matter, with a view to forestalling the ugly incident in the future.
“This is not the first time it is happening at the same place, due to poor arrangements, without regard to the safety of human lives.
“Our party believes that the people deserve genuine dividends of democracy, that will take them out of poverty, rather than the occasional spraying of cash on the street and dehumanizing exercise of sharing out cheap items, at the cost of their safety.”
The party, therefore, demanded the payment of compensation to the families of those who allegedly lost their lives and others who were injured during the incident.
Recall that the Senator apart from opening his residence for the less privileged to break their fast also distributed different clothes especially for the less privileged to celebrate the upcoming Sallah celebration.