No fewer than seven students of the Nasarawa State University, Keffi have been feared dead on Friday during looting of palliative rice.
The students according to report stampede died in a stampede when looting rice given for distribution by the state government.
DAILY GIST gathered that the incident happened at the convocation square where the bags of rice were kept awaiting the arrival of Gov. Abdullahi Sule for the commencement of distribution.
According to an eyewitness, the surging crowd of students waiting to enter the square over powered the security personnel and broke in through the gate thereby causing a stampede.
The source described the incident as very unfortunate.
“Some of the students were struggling with the police over the rice and as more students got information, the situation degenerated.
“As we speak, some students are injured and receiving treatment at the school clinic,” the source said.
He said some students picked up bags of rice and ran to their hostels and other places of residence even as the governor was yet to arrive to inaugurate the distribution.
However, it was learnt that police officers have started retrieving the palliatives from students.
When contacted, Mr Abraham Ekpo, Information and Protocol Officer of the University, said he was aware of the incident but yet to get details about it.
Recall that the governor recently embarked on a palliative initiative for students of tertiary institutions in the state.
He had visited Federal University, Lafia, College of Education, Akwanga among others where he distributed 7.5 kg bags of rice and N5,000 to each students.
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