A stampede at the Gombe main Eid prayer ground on Sunday led to the tragic death of two young children, Aisha Salisu Ahmed, aged four and a half, and Maryam Abdullahi Gwani, aged four.
The incident reportedly occurred when a large crowd, mostly women and children, rushed to leave the prayer ground in a hurry. Several people also sustained injuries in the process.
Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Yahaya, expressed deep sadness over the loss of the two children. In a statement signed by his Director-General of Press Affairs, Ismaila Uba Misilli, he said, “We grieve with their families during this difficult time, and our hearts are with them as they mourn the loss of their beloved children.”
The governor has ordered a full investigation into the cause of the stampede to prevent a recurrence.
“The safety and well-being of our citizens remain a top priority,” Yahaya said, adding that the state government will take necessary steps to learn from the incident and improve crowd control at future events.
Following the tragedy, the governor sent a delegation led by his Chief of Staff, Alhaji Abubakar Inuwa Kari, to visit victims receiving treatment at various hospitals. The team visited Zainab Bulkachuwa Hospital, Specialist Hospital, and the Federal Teaching Hospital in Gombe, where most of the injured were reported to be in stable condition.
Doctors at the hospitals assured the delegation that many of the victims would be discharged soon, while some had already been treated and released before the visit.
To support the affected families, Governor Yahaya has directed that the state government will cover all medical expenses for the victims to ease their financial burden.
