A stampede at the main Eid prayer area in Gombe on Sunday has resulted in the verified deaths of at least two youngsters.
Four-and-a-half-year-old Aisha Salisu Ahmed and Maryam Abdullahi Gwani, 4, were the identities provided for the children.
A crowd of mostly women and children were said to have rushed to leave the venue in haste, leading to the incident.
According to Channels Television, several other persons suffered varying degrees of injuries.
Gombe State Governor Muhammadu Yahaya, in a statement signed by Director-General Press Affairs, Government House, Ismaila Uba Misilli, reacted to the incident.
The governor sent out condolences to the families of the two young girls who lost their lives.
“We grieve with their families during this difficult time, and our hearts are with them as they mourn the loss of their beloved children,” he said.
Yahaya directed security agencies in the state to carry out a comprehensive investigation to examine the circumstances that led to this unfortunate event and to prevent such occurrences in the future.
He said, “The safety and well-being of our citizens remain a top priority.”
The governor said his administration was committed to ensuring that lessons were learned and corrective measures were put in place.
Earlier, according to the statement, the governor had sent a high-powered delegation, led by the chief of staff of Government House, Alhaji Abubakar Inuwa Kari, to visit the medical facilities where the victims were receiving treatment.
He also directed that all medical expenses for the victims be fully covered by the state government.
Written By John Owen Nwachukwu