30 killed in Ilorin stampede

Posted by admin Headlines, Kwara, State News Sunday, May 29th, 2011

TRAGEDY struck on Friday night in Ilorin, Kwara State, as about 30 people, mostly women, lost their lives in a stampede during the valedictory party held for the outgoing governor, Dr Bukola Saraki.

Dr Saraki met his political supporters, about 5, 000 of them at the Mandate House around 6 pm on Friday, where he thanked them for their support in the last eight years.

Trouble started when the supporters were asked to queue up to collect money and clothes for the inauguration ceremony coming up today at the Metropolitan Square, Ilorin.

The stampede occurred when a fence collapsed on those on the queue as people started to run from pillar to post for safety. Most were not aware of what was happening.

Sunday Tribune gathered that corpses of those who lost their lives were brought to the mortuary, while those that sustained injuries were treated and discharged accordingly from the hospitals.

Meanwhile, Saraki has expressed shock and saddeness by the ugly incident. He had consequently directed security operatives in the state to investigate the incident.

The outgoing Chief Press Secretary, Alhaji Mushood Adebimpe on behalf Dr. Saraki commiserated with the people of the state and the family of the victims who lost their lives during the stampede.

Meanwhile the Police Public Relation Officer of Kwara State Police Command, Mr Dabo Ezekiel, on Saturday confirmed the incident saying that the Command was not certain on the number of those that lost their lives.

According to him investigation was on to find out the courses of the stampede as he called on the people of the state capital Ilorin not to be disturbed.

-Tribunewp_posts