Two dead, 20 injured in Gombe Eid-el-Fitr prayer ground stampede

A chaotic stampede at the main Eid-el-Fitr prayer ground in Gombe State turned a day of celebration into tragedy, leaving two children dead and 20 others injured. The incident occurred at the exit gate shortly after prayers, as thousands of worshippers sought to leave the venue.

Buhari Abdullahi, spokesperson for the Gombe Police Command, confirmed the event, attributing the stampede to inadequate exit access and overwhelming crowd pressure.“The stampede was caused by inadequate exit access, as a large crowd, primarily women and children, rushed to leave the venue,” he stated.

“The situation, worsened by intense heat, led to the unfortunate incident, and 22 individuals were affected and were immediately taken to hospitals for medical attention.”

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Among the casualties were a four-year-old boy and a six-month-old baby girl, who succumbed to their injuries while receiving treatment. The remaining victims are being treated at various medical facilities across the state, with authorities closely monitoring their conditions.

Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as people pushed and struggled to exit through the limited passageways. “It was a nightmare. People were screaming, children were falling, and there was just no way to control the crowd,” said a resident who attended the prayers.

The police have urged organisers of large religious gatherings to implement stricter crowd control measures, including keeping all gates open and ensuring proper crowd management to prevent future tragedies.

“This unfortunate incident highlights the need for better planning and safety protocols at such large gatherings,” the police command stated.

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Inuwa Yahaya, Gombe State Governor, has extended his condolences to the grieving families and assured the public that measures will be put in place to prevent a recurrence.

“The safety and well-being of our citizens remain a top priority. The state government is committed to learning from this incident and implementing corrective measures,” Yahaya said in a statement issued through his aide!

In a bid to support the affected families, the governor announced that the state would cover all medical expenses for the injured victims. He also directed authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances leading to the stampede.