Ilorin Sallah stampede

The Ilorin Sallah stampede was a human stampede that occurred at Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State, North-central Nigeria on Eid al-Fitr (Sallah day) at the end of Ramadan in 2013.[1] The stampede resulted in the death of 20 people and left several others severely injured.[2] Four people died the first day, and 16 more over the next few days. The incident occurred on 16 October 2013 at Senator Bukola Saraki's house. Saraki is the two-term governor of Kwara State and the incumbent President of the Senate of Nigeria.[3]

Background

Senator Bukola Saraki's father, the late Alhaji Abubakar Olusola Saraki, was a philanthropist who often gave food and clothing to the needy, especially at the Eid al-Fitr celebrations at the end of Ramadan. Saraki gave rice, chicken and sometimes money to the widows, the aged, and the poor before his death on November 14, 2012.[4][5] On every Sallah day, thousands of people would queue at his residence at the Government Reservation Area, Ilorin, Kwara State, to receive the annual gifts.[6]

Following the death of Alhaji Olusola Saraki, his son Bukola Saraki decided to continue this philanthropic act on every Sallah day. This philanthropic act contributed significantly to Saraki's political ambition and had profound effects on his breakthrough in Nigerian politics.[7] Thousands of people lined up at his residence for the annual gifts.[8][9]

Previous incidents

This was not the first time that stampedes had occurred at his residence.[10] A similar stampede occurred on November 17, 2010, during his campaign for election as a member of the 7th National Assembly, and at least eleven of his campaigners died.[11] On May 27, 2011, during his inauguration ceremony, 25 people were reported dead following distributions of clothing and money to his electoral supporters.[12] These "annual rituals" and deaths almost came to be expected.[13] A spokesperson has said that although some in the press had blamed the deaths on the disorderly behaviour of the crowds, efforts would be made to improve the distribution of the gifts.[3]

References

  1. ↑ "Metro - Sallah gifts' stampede claims 10 lives at Saraki's house". Nigerian Bulletin. Retrieved July 30, 2015.
  2. ↑ "Kwara Sallah stampede: Death toll rises to 20 as Saraki expresses sadness over incident". Information Nigeria. Retrieved 30 July 2015.
  3. 1 2 "Ilorin Sallah tragedy, Bukola Saraki still in shock as death toll rises". Economium Nigeria. Retrieved July 30, 2015.
  4. ↑ "KWASU: Documenting Dr. Olusola Saraki's philanthropic history". The Herald News. Retrieved June 21, 2015.
  5. ↑ "How Olusola Saraki lost battle to cancer – Son". Vanguard News. Retrieved June 21, 2015.
  6. ↑ "Pilgrimage to Saraki's house causes gridlock, discomfort". The Punch News. Retrieved June 21, 2015.
  7. ↑ "Bukola Saraki's Rising Profile, Articles". THISDAY LIVE. Retrieved June 21, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Nigeria:How stampede tragedy marred former Governor Saraki". allafrica.com. Retrieved June 21, 2015.
  9. ↑ "Question over Saraki's annual Sallah stampede". Premium Times Nigeria. Retrieved June 21, 2015.
  10. ↑ "15 women, children died in stampede at Saraki's Ilorin residence". gongnews.net. Retrieved June 21, 2015.
  11. ↑ "Cover-up as police order DPO to hands off probe of Saraki". Premium Times Nigeria. Retrieved June 21, 2015.
  12. ↑ "Kwara stampede: Death toll rises to 25". THISDAY LIVE. Retrieved June 21, 2015.
  13. ↑ "Bukola Saraki's annual ritual of stampedes". Vanguard News. Retrieved July 30, 2015.
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