Victoria Ogunyemi
Tragedy struck at the Gombe main Eid Ground as a stampede claimed the lives of two children and left 22 others injured during the Eid prayers on Sunday.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Gombe State Police Command, Buhari Abdullahi, stated that the stampede occurred around 10:45 a.m. as worshippers attempted to exit the venue after the prayers. He attributed the incident to inadequate exit access, which led to a rush, particularly among women and children, exacerbated by the intense heat.
According to Abdullahi, emergency responders swiftly transported the victims to nearby hospitals for urgent medical attention. However, two children—a four-year-old boy and a six-month-old baby girl—succumbed to their injuries while receiving treatment.
Expressing condolences to the grieving families, the police urged Eid Ground managers to ensure that all entrance and exit points remain open to facilitate smooth movement, especially during large gatherings.
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Meanwhile, Gombe State Governor, Inuwa Yahaya, has extended his sympathies to the affected families and directed an immediate investigation into the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
In a statement issued by his media aide, the governor reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to enhancing crowd control measures at public events.
“The safety and well-being of our citizens remain a top priority. The state government will take necessary steps to prevent such incidents in the future,” Yahaya assured.
Additionally, the governor directed that all medical expenses for the injured be covered by the state government, as part of efforts to support the victims and their families.
Authorities have called for greater coordination in managing large religious gatherings to avoid similar tragedies in the future.