ABUJA – At least seven people were killed and
dozens injured in Nigeria’s capital after thousands
of panicked job-seekers stampeded during a
government recruitment drive in the national
stadium on Saturday.
Survivors told AFP that thousands had gathered to
apply for jobs with the immigration department in
the Abuja stadium.
One witness said the stampede broke out as
applicants surged towards a central stage. They
said only one entrance to the 60,000-capacity
stadium was open. It wasn’t clear how many
people were inside at the time of the crush.
“The immigration service was having a recruitment
exercise at the stadium … there was a stampede
and they brought the victims to the national
hospital,” said hospital spokesman Tayo Haastrup.
No official casualty list was given, but an AFP
journalist on the scene counted seven dead and
dozens injured.
Many injured people could not be admitted to
hospital due to lack of capacity.
Those with stable injuries “will be sent to other
hospitals so that we can deal with the numerous
injured that continue to arrive,” said Haastrup.
(AFP)
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