Death toll in Bauchi alms stampede rises to 8 

As AYM Shafa Foundation Visits Bereaved Families

From Paul Orude Bauchi

The death toll from Sunday’s stampede in Bauchi at an event for the distribution of Zakaat otherwise known as alms by AYM Shafa Foundation has risen to eight.

This was confirmed by Professor Ahmed Mohammed, Chairman of Zakat Distribution, in an interview with journalists on Monday.

Mohammed, a professor of Animal Science, disclosed that about N40 million was supposed to be distributed on Sunday for annual Zakaat for 2024.

“We have gone about two hours when the stampede occurred and we had to suspend the exercise,” he said.

“On Monday we went 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.

“A Renowned Bauchi Islamic scholar, Dr. Ibrahim Adamu Disina spoke on behalf of the delegation, which comprised businessmen, retired public officers, technocrats and some relatives of Shafa during the visitation”

The University Don said it was in the course of the visitation that report reached them that another woman had died, bringing the number of deaths to eight

“As of today (Monday March 25) we woke with seven deaths. We went round to see families of the deceased. While we were going round we were informed by the police that one women died, bringing the number to eight, not 17 or 18 as some people are saying”