No fewer than four persons have lost their lives in a stampede while struggling to collect Zakat being distributed by a private businessman, AYM Shafa, in Bauchi State.
THISDAY checks revealed that the stampede occurred on Sunday at the office of Shafa Holdings located along Jos Road in Bauchi metropolis.
The poor and needy, who by Islamic jurisprudence are meant to be beneficiaries of Zakat, had gathered in their numbers since morning waiting to take their turns to collect the Zakat.
THISDAY also reports that Zakat is one of the pillars of the Islamic faith. It requires all Muslims to donate a portion of their wealth to charity. Muslims must meet a certain threshold before they can qualify for Zakat. The amount is 2.5% or 1/40 of an individual’s total savings and wealth, which is thereafter given out to the needy and poor.
The affected persons were rushed to the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH), Bauchi for medical attention where those who died were confirmed dead.
Confirming the incident to our correspondent, Spokesperson of Bauchi State Police Command, SP Ahmed Mohammed Wakil, said about four persons lost their lives in the stampede.
He said scores of others were injured, adding that the situation had been brought under control.
According to him, “On receiving the distress call, the Commissioner of Police, Auwal Musa Mohammed immediately directed for urgent action directing for mobilization of personnel to the scene for action.”
The PPRO added that, “On getting to the scene, the Police operative joined in the rescue operations, cordoned off the area in order to prevent further casualties while the exercise was stopped.”
He added that, “The victims were rushed to the ATBUTH unconscious after which a medical doctor confirmed that four of them were dead. Others including a 17-year old girl are currently receiving treatment at the hospital.”
The PPRO also said that the Command frowns at such development which puts the lives of people at risk considering the present economic situation in the country.
He added that the Command is appealing to individuals and organisations that have plans of embarking on such to adequately inform the Command in order to mobilize personnel to the venue for effective crowd control.
All efforts to get official confirmation and reactions from the management of AYM Shafa on the development proved abortive as no official was available to talk to Journalists at the office.
Segun Awofadeji
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