Two dead, 20 injured in stampede at Gombe Eid ground

Gombe State experienced a heartbreaking incident on Sallah Day as two people lost their lives in a stampede at the Central Eid praying ground.

According to reports, the stampede occurred around 10:45 AM, just after the Eid prayers, which were led by the chief imam of Gombe and attended by the state governor, Inuwa Yahaya, and the Emir of Gombe, Abubakar Shehu Abubakar.

This newspaper gathered that the chaos unfolded near the exit gate as a large crowd rushed to leave the venue. The stampede affected at least 22 people, with two tragically confirmed dead.

The Gombe State Police Command, through spokesperson Buhari Abdullahi, comfirmed the incident. He explained that the crowd, mostly made up of women and children, hastily attempted to exit the grounds, and the combined heat and overcrowding contributed to the stampede.

“22 people were affected, and swift action was taken. Ambulances from the Gombe State Government House rushed 15 victims to Zainab Bulkachuwa Hospital, while seven others were taken to the Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe, for medical treatment,” he said.

Sadly, two victims, Aisha Salisu Ahmed (4 years old) and Maryam Abdullahi Gwani (4 years old), were confirmed dead by medical professionals while receiving care.

The Police Command urged those managing Eid grounds to ensure all entrance and exit gates are open to facilitate smooth movement, especially after prayers.

The stampede was attributed to the lack of sufficient exit points, which caused overcrowding and panic as people tried to leave.