The police in Bauchi State have confirmed four persons dead in a stampede during the distribution of alms by a philanthropist in the Bauchi metropolis. 

The spokesperson for the command, SP Ahmed Wakil, confirmed the incident, on Sunday in Bauchi

He said the incident occurred on Sunday at the AYM Shafa Holdings Office, when hundreds of people gathered to collect alms from a philanthropist, Yakubu Maishanu.

He said the command received a distress call from the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital about the victims being rushed to the facility for medical attention. 

“The Commissioner of Police, Auwal Musa, directed for urgent action and mobilised personnel to the scene. The police operatives joined the rescue operation, cordoned off the area to prevent further casualties while the exercise was stopped,” he said.

Mr Wakil said that four females were confirmed dead by a medical doctor while others were receiving treatment at the hospital.

The police spokesman urged individuals and organisations engaged in philanthropist and humanitarian services to report to the police and make adequate arrangements in their distribution exercises to forestall future occurrences.

(NAN)