At least three people have died and several others were injured in a stampede at the Niger State Government House in Minna.
The injured victims are being treated at the Minna General Hospital.
The incident happened on Tuesday night after youths reportedly linked to a planned protest over the recent deaths of 37 artisanal miners were allegedly invited to the Government House and asked to drop the protest.
Among those killed were Dije and her daughter, Hurairat, both IDPs from Allawa community in Shiroro Local Government Area.
Hurairat’s husband, Abubakar, a butcher, was reportedly killed by bandits in 2023 along the Allawa-Pandogari Road. She later moved to Minna as an IDP after the community was deserted.
Dije, who lived with her husband as an IDP in Gurmana, had visited Hurairat when they heard that the governor would distribute money at the Government House. They both went there.
Mallam Musa Allawa, an IDP, told Daily Trust that Dije and Hurairat would be buried at 10am on Wednesday.
Before the stampede, some government appointees posted online that youths had gathered to show solidarity with Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago.
An appointee told Daily Trust that more people, including women, later arrived after hearing that N10,000 would be shared.
The governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Bologi Ibrahim, said a statement would be released in due course.
Police spokesman SP Wasiu Abubakar said he would verify the report and revert.
