Bauchi Arms Stampede: AYM Shafa, Media Disagree Over Number of Deaths

Our Editor

As bereaved families continue to mourn their loved ones that died at a stampede that happened during distribution of annual monetary Zakkat by philanthropist AYM Shafa in Bauchi State, the actual figure of deaths has remained contentious.

While the AYM Shafa Foundation insist that eight people died, some media outlets put the death toll at 15.

One media quoted the Secretary of Dangulbe main cemetery in Bauchi, Yahaya Mohammed, as saying that 15 corpses of victims of the stampede were brought and buried in the cemetery on that fateful day, which included 12 adult and three children.

Mohammed gave the names of the victims as Alti Abdullahi Digan Yaya, 55 years; Maryam Suleiman, 12 years; Nana Khadija Suleiman, 7-years; Aisha Ibrahim Kobi, 43 years; 16-year-old Maryam Shuaibu; Aishatu Usman, 13; Haiwau Musa, Sabon Kaura, 50; and Aishatu Saidu Khandahar, 55.

Others are Amina Abdullahi, 40 years; Umaimah Yahaya, 13; Sahura Abubakar, 48; Zainab Ahmad, 12; 3-year-old Isa Aliyu Zango and 5-year-old Khadija Yahaya.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Wakil Ahmed, gave a figure of seven namely Aisha Usman ‘f’ aged 13, Sahura Abubakar, 55, Aisha Ibrahim Abubakar, 43, .Khadija isah,  8, .Maryam Suleiman, 20, Maryam Shuibu, 16 years and Hassana Saidu, 53.

Professor Ahmed Mohammed, Chairman of Zakat Distribution Committee, insisted eight people are officially confirmed dead as one woman died Monday

 “The people that came we did not invite them,” Mohammed told journalists on Monday.

“It is a yearly event that we normally give some money to the less privileged people. They envisaged that we were doing it yesterday (Sunday March 24) so they came in their large number.

“We had security coverage but the high number of the people they couldn’t control them, the crwd was too much,” he said.

“In an effort to open one of the places that we normally keep the people before we start distribution there was a struggle to be number one while others sitting down. Those struggling to be number one they trampled over them and unfortunately some were unconscious and later confirmed dead in the hospital.

“As of today (Monday March 25) we woke with seven deaths. We wnet round to see families of the deceased. While we were going round we were informed by the police that eight died, not as people will be saying 17, some saying 18. Like I saw in Daily Trust saying 10,

Mohammed disclosed that the Foundation went round to condole the victim of the deceased

“It was about N40 million that was supposed to be distributed yesterday we have gone about two hours when the stampede occurred.

“We suspended the distribution to stop further escalation. We have gone round the houses of the victims that died to see their families and in the wisdom of the Chairman of the foundation, gave the sum of N250, 000, two bags of rice, one bag of maize and one bag of millet.

“It is not to pay them for the death but allow them do something for their visitors that came to sympathize with them”

Professor Ahmed said following the incident, the Foundation has initiated several changes that will prevent further occurrence of stampede in the future since it is a yearly event.

As the debate over the figure rages, residence are hoping that government and well-meaning Nigerians will intensify effort to ameliorate the suffering among the majority.