Tragedy strikes as 2-children die in eid ground stampede

A tragic stampede at the Gombe main Eid Ground on Sunday morning claimed the lives of two children, with several others sustaining injuries, the Gombe State Police Command has confirmed.

According to the Command’s spokesperson, Buhari Abdullahi, the incident occurred at about 10:45 a.m., moments after the conclusion of Eid prayers. The chaos reportedly ensued due to inadequate exit access, as a massive crowd—mainly women and children—rushed to leave the venue.

“The situation was worsened by the extreme heat, leading to the unfortunate loss of lives,” Abdullahi stated.

Emergency responders quickly transported 22 affected individuals to nearby hospitals for urgent medical attention. Tragically, a four-year-old boy and a six-month-old baby girl were pronounced dead by doctors despite efforts to save them.

Expressing condolences to the bereaved families, the police advised Eid Ground managers to ensure all entrance and exit points remain open in future gatherings to prevent similar tragedies.

Reacting to the incident, Gombe State Governor Inuwa Yahaya extended his sympathies to the victims’ families and ordered an immediate investigation into the circumstances surrounding the stampede.

“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,” the governor stated in a press release through his media aide.

Governor Yahaya also directed that all medical expenses for the injured victims be fully covered by the state government to aid their recovery.