Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has expressed grief over the deaths of three people who reportedly lost their lives in a stampede at the Niger State Government House, following reports that ₦10,000 was to be distributed to members of the crowd.
Atiku described the incident as a painful reminder of the economic difficulties confronting many Nigerian households, stressing that the victims should not be remembered merely as statistics but as individuals with families, hopes and futures.
In a statement issued by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Atiku condoled with the families of the deceased and called for immediate medical attention for those injured.
“Three Nigerians reportedly went to a Government House and did not return home. I mourn them with their families. I pray for those who were injured and call for their immediate care,” Atiku said.
Atiku Speaks on Niger Stampede
The former vice president said the reported rush for ₦10,000 assistance highlighted the level of financial pressure facing Nigerians.
According to him, while government support can provide relief to vulnerable citizens, such assistance must be organised in a way that protects recipients from avoidable danger.
“That people would rush towards the possibility of ₦10,000 tells us something painful about the pressure on Nigerian households. But desperation must never be met with a distribution arrangement that puts lives at risk,” he said.
Atiku added that government assistance should be provided with dignity and with the safety of citizens treated as a priority.
Calls for Investigation Into Niger Government House Deaths
Atiku called on the Niger State Government to establish the circumstances surrounding the stampede and make public details about how the gathering was announced and managed.
He also urged the state government to support the families of those who died and provide appropriate assistance to people injured in the incident.
“There must be no attempt to blame the victims for seeking help,” Atiku said, arguing that authorities should explain how three people lost their lives at the gates of government and identify measures to prevent a recurrence.
Atiku Links Stampede to Nigeria’s Economic Hardship
The former vice president said the incident should trigger a wider conversation about the economic conditions confronting Nigerians.
With Nigeria approaching Independence Day, Atiku said the deaths should prompt more than expressions of sympathy, arguing that the circumstances surrounding the incident reflected the hardship experienced by citizens seeking financial assistance.
“A nation cannot call itself prosperous while its citizens risk their lives for ₦10,000. We must make life affordable again and treat every Nigerian life as precious,” he said.
The incident has renewed attention on the organisation of public assistance programmes and the need for authorities to ensure that large gatherings involving the distribution of relief or cash support are properly managed and secured.
