At least two children have been confirmed dead following a stampede at the Gombe main Eid prayer ground on Sunday.
The victims have been identified as four-and-a-half-year-old Aisha Salisu Ahmed and four-year-old Maryam Abdullahi Gwani.
The stampede reportedly occurred as a crowd, mostly women and children, rushed to exit the venue in haste, leading to the tragic incident.
According to Channels Television, several other individuals sustained varying degrees of injuries.
Reacting to the incident, Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Yahaya, expressed his condolences to the grieving families. In a statement signed by the Director-General of Press Affairs at the Government House, Ismaila Uba Misilli, the governor mourned the loss of the two young girls.
“We grieve with their families during this difficult time, and our hearts are with them as they mourn the loss of their beloved children,” Yahaya stated.
The governor directed security agencies to conduct a thorough investigation to determine the circumstances that led to the tragedy and to implement measures to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
“The safety and well-being of our citizens remain a top priority,” he emphasized.
In addition, the governor dispatched a high-powered delegation, led by the Chief of Staff of the Government House, Alhaji Abubakar Inuwa Kari, to visit the medical facilities where the injured victims were receiving treatment. He also ordered that all medical expenses for the victims be fully covered by the state government.
Governor Yahaya reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to learning from the incident and putting corrective measures in place to enhance public safety during future gatherings.
