The incident happened as a result of the congestion of individuals who filled a fenced environment in anticipation of getting their own share of the alms.
The philanthropist, Haruna Maje, owner of Nasara Maje Trucks Company, was said to be sharing his yearly alm (Zakkat) with the needy when the incident happened.
It was gathered that the amount being shared was cash ranging from N5,000, N3,000, N2,000, and N1,000 per person depending on the giver’s self-judgment of one’s situation and looks.
According to security officials at the venue, the process began on Tuesday peacefully and was well coordinated but went sideways on Wednesday due to the impatience of the people who besieged the place.
“They were settled sitting down in a queue before the ones at the back started going forward and then everything went scattered.
“Also, those who collected yesterday have told many others who came today to congest the place.
“So far, one person was dead, a cripple, and many have been brought out in a bad situation as some of them sustained injuries and others fainted.”
It was observed that among the people who were at the venue were those who told our reporter that they came from Kumbotso Local Government Area and had no transport fare to return home.
As of the time of filing this report, security officials have stopped the process as police officers escorted the organisers of the programme back to their head office.
It was further gathered that the philanthropist and his staff had since left due to the deteriorating situation.
Efforts to speak with them prove abortive as the Manager of the company and other Staff present declined comments.
“As you can see, we have stopped indefinitely, we were doing things in order before they scattered it themselves,” one of them said.
However, despite the situation and hot weather, people were still adamant about leaving the place which could result in more casualties.
Efforts to contact the Public Relations Officer of the State Command, SP Abdullahi Haruna proved abortive as his mobile phone was switched off.
