Many dignitaries including the wife of the Niger State Governor,
Babangida Aliyu, Jumai, were on Saturday injured in Minna, the state capital
when a podium they mounted at a rally in support of President Goodluck Jonathan
collapsed.
Pandemonium ensued at the Minna Trade Fair ground venue of the North
Central rally of the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria for President
Goodluck Jonathan as the podium collapsed. There were about 2000 persons on the
platform when the incident occurred.
The stampede that followed saw dignitaries at the event scamper to
safety. However, top government officials at the event escaped unhurt as they
were all protected by their orderlies and escorted to the main podium to
continue in the event.
It was gathered that the event managers were under the stand and still
fixing some of the scaffolds since they arrived Minna very late on Friday to
mount the stage when the incident happened.
Some of the victims who had various forms of injuries were rushed in
ambulances to the IBB Specialist Hospital; General Hospital, Minna; Bay Clinic
and Top Medical centre.
Among those injured were the wife of the Niger State governor, Jumai
Aliyu and Director General, Public Affairs, Mallam Tanko Dada, who had a deep
cut in his head and was rushed to the Bay Clinic close to the governor’s house
in Minna.
As at the time of filling this report the number of casualties was not
known as security men barred people and journalists from getting to some of the
hospitals and the scene.
One of the victims, Ismail Gambo, said, “I thought it was a bomb blast,
so I had to jump as much as I could but I realised I was trapped in the stand
as many people ran to safety.”
However, Governor Aliyu told TAN, “This thing that happened should not
deter you from doing what you came to do, after all Niger State has over one
million signatories for Mr President.”
Among those injured, as were a special assistant to Governor Aliyu who
tried to rescue his principal, a state security personnel who broke his leg.
Many phones (handsets) were seen on the ground as people scampered to safety.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Ibrahim Gambari, when contacted,
confirmed the incident but could not ascertain the number of casualties as at
the time of filling this report
Dignitaries present at the rally included the Secretary to the Federal
Government Pius Anyim, Prof. Jerry Gana, Barnabas Gemade, Ibrahim Mantu, FCT
Minister of State, Olajumoke Akinjide, Sen Philip Aduda, Minister of Water
Resources, Sarah Ochekpe, deputy governors from Kogi, Benue and Sokoto;
Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, Bola Sagaya and Minster of Interior,
Abba Moro.
Tags
Politics
Dem go soon blame APC.
ReplyDeleteOR APC GO BLAME PDP OR GEJ
ReplyDelete