At least three people died and several others were injured on Tuesday night, September 29, in a stampede at the Niger State Government House in Minna. The incident occurred after word spread that Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago would distribute N10,000 to those gathered at the venue. According to Daily Trust, the injured are currently receiving treatment at Minna General Hospital.
The stampede broke out after youths reportedly linked to a planned protest over the recent deaths of 37 artisanal miners were allegedly invited to the Government House to call off their demonstration. However, the rumour of a cash giveaway drew large numbers of women and others to the scene, triggering the deadly crush.
Victims Identified as IDPs from Shiroro
Two of the deceased were identified as Dije and her daughter, Hurairat, both internally displaced persons (IDPs) originally from the Allawa community in Shiroro local government area. Hurairat's husband, Abubakar, a butcher, was killed by bandits in 2023 along the Allawa-Pandogari Road.
After the attack and the subsequent abandonment of Allawa, Hurairat had been living in Minna as an IDP. Dije, who had been staying with her husband in Gurmana as an IDP, was visiting her daughter when both women heard about the alleged distribution at the Government House and decided to go.
Mallam Musa Allawa, one of the IDPs, told reporters that Dije and Hurairat were to be buried at 10am on Wednesday, September 30.
Government and Police Yet to Respond Fully
Before the stampede, several appointees of the governor had posted on social media that youths had gathered at the Government House to show solidarity with Governor Bago, according to Daily Trust. One of those appointees later told reporters that the situation changed when additional crowds, including women, arrived after hearing the money-sharing rumour.
The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Bologi Ibrahim, said the government would release a statement in due course. The Spokesperson for the Niger State Police Command, SP Wasiu Abiodun, said he would verify the information and respond.
The incident highlights the dangers of unverified information spreading rapidly, especially among vulnerable populations. As of now, the exact number of injured persons has not been officially confirmed, and both the state government and police have yet to issue formal statements. The burial of the two IDP victims is scheduled for Wednesday morning, while the third victim's identity has not been publicly disclosed.
