At least three people, including a mother, her daughter and another woman, have reportedly died, while several others sustained injuries following a stampede at the Niger State Government House in Minna.
The incident occurred on Tuesday during a gathering at the Government House, where Governor Umaru Bago reportedly ordered the distribution of N10,000 to youths who had assembled to express support for his administration.
Two of the victims, identified as Hulaira and her daughter, Dije, both internally displaced persons from Shiroro Local Government Area, reportedly died at the General Hospital, Minna.
The crowd had gathered for a rally organised to demonstrate support for Governor Bago and dissociate participants from a planned October 1 protest in Minna.
However, the gathering reportedly became chaotic after government officials began distributing the N10,000 cash, triggering a stampede in which several people were injured.
The incident comes amid heightened tension in Niger State following recent security and social concerns, including the reported deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
The state is also witnessing an ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) at Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai.
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Earlier, some of Governor Bago’s aides, including his media relations aide, Alfa Kayan Bago, had appealed to youths to maintain peace and stay away from the planned October 1 protest.
In a statement, Kayan Bago said youths reportedly linked to plans for the protest had visited the governor at the Government House and pledged their commitment to peace.
According to him, the youths said, “We are for peace. There will be no protest in Niger State.”
He added: “The message is clear. Let those who have ears listen. Bago Kawai……No Noise, Sai Result.”
Meanwhile, the remains of Hulaira and her daughter, Dije, were buried at the Unguwan Daji Mosque Cemetery in Minna on Wednesday.
The spokesman for the Niger State Police Command did not respond to enquiries about the incident.
As of the time of filing this report, the Niger State Government had not issued an official statement on the stampede or confirmed the reported number of casualties.
