There was pandemonium in Minna, the Niger State capital, as dignitaries scampered for safety at the Minna Trade Fair Ground, venue of the North Central rally of the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria for President Goodluck Jonathan, when the stand that housed top government functionaries collapsed.
The stampede, which saw top government functionaries scrambling for escape route, occurred at 11:53am, with few minutes left for goodwill messages at the event.
Most of the top government dignitaries at the event escaped unhurt as they were protected by their orderlies and escorted to the main podium to continue the event.
The host Governor, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu; his wife, Jummai; the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim; former Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ibrahim Mantu; Senator Gbemisola Saraki; Senator Zainab Kure; former Minister of Information, Prof. Jerry Gana; the Sokoto State Deputy Governor, Alhaji Mukhtar Shehu Shagari; and a host of other PDP chieftains were at the rally.
Those injured were rushed to hospitals to receive medical attention.
Many of whom were discharged almost immediately.
The rally however continued after the initial setback as speaker after speaker praised the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan.
Anyim, in his address, said he had not come to campaign for the President but to collect signatures of the people of the North Central zone calling on Jonathan to seek relocation in 2015.
The event managers were under the stand still fixing some of the scaffolds since they arrived in Minna very late on Friday to mount the stage.
Some of the victims who had various forms of injuries were rushed in ambulances to the IBB Specialist Hospital, the General Hospital in Minna, Bay Clinic and Top Medical Centre.
Among those with injuries were Hajia Jumai Aliyu and the Director General of Public Affairs in the state, Mallam Tanko Dada.
Dada had a deep cut on his head and was rushed to the Bay Clinic close to the Governor’s House in Minna.
As at the time of filing this report, the number of casualties was not known as security men barred people and journalists from getting to some of the hospitals and the scene.
Operatives of the Department of State Service attacked journalists who wanted to catch a climpse with their cameras as they were pushed.
This deprived the media from getting photo shots.
One of the victims, Ismail Gambo, said: “I thought it was bomb blast.
“So I had to jump as much as I could but I realised I was trapped in the stand as so many people were scrambling for safety.”
However, Aliyu assured TAN of his support and wished the group well.
He said: “This thing that happened should not deter you from doing what you came to do.”
Another victim, a journalist attached to TAN, said: “I was interviewing one of the top officials when the scaffold started giving way.
“I quickly went to the stairs, but before I got there, the stand collapse.
“I only sustained this minor injury.”
Other dignitaries present at the rally included Senator Barnabas Gemade; the Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Olajumoke Akinjide; Senator Philip Aduda; the Minister of Water Resources, Sarah Ochekpe; the Deputy Governors of Kogi and Benue States; the Minister of Information, Labaran Maku; Senator Bola Sagaya, who is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party Board of Trustees; the Minster of Interior, Abba Moro; Senator-elect, Nuhu Zagbayi; and the Minister of State for Agriculture, Hajia Asabe Asmau Ahmed.
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