Several Die As Kwara PDP Members Scramble For Saraki’s Sallah

A yet unknown number of members
of the Kwara state chapter of the
Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, died
on Wednesday night as they
scrambled for handouts distributed
by former Governor of the state,
Bukola Saraki.
A source said no fewer than a dozen
people were feared dead.
Several others were injured in the
incident which occurred at a venue
popularly called PDP Charity House,
which is near Mr. Saraki’s Ilorin
residence.
Tragedy struck as indigent party
members tried to outsmart one
another as Mr. Saraki and other
philanthropists distributed the yearly
sallah gifts.
The dead and the injured were
packed into ambulances and rushed
to nearby hospitals.
In a statement emailed to PREMIUM
TIMES on Wednesday night, the
Publicity Secretary of Kwara PDP,
Mas’ud Adebimpe, confirmed the
incident and commiserated with the
families of the victims.
He, however, confirmed the death of
only four PDP members , with many
others injured.
Mr. Adebimpe said, “The Peoples
Democratic Party Kwara State
chapter held its annual Sallah
celebration at PDP Charity House
where many party faithful were in
attendance.
“The event which is an annual
activity of the party went on
smoothly until the unfortunate
incident of a stampede, which led to
some people fainting. They were
immediately rushed to a hospital
few blocks away from the venue.
“While some are currently
responding positively to treatment,
we however regret to announce that
we lost four of our party members to
the unfortunate development.
“Our prayers go out to the families
of the deceased and we pray for the
quick recovery of those that are
responding fast to treatment.”
The yearly sallah gifts distribution by
the Sarakis and the party have of late
led to multiple deaths.
On May 27, 2011, several people
died at the Mandate House, Ilorin,
as they scrambled for rice and other
items.
At least 11 others died in a similar
fashion in November 2010, but only
four deaths were also confirmed by
the Kwara government at the time.
http://premiumtimesng.com/news/146753-
several-die-stampede-kwara-pdp-members-
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