‘No palliative worth life of any citizen’ – Akala demands justice for NSUK students killed in stampede

Samuel Akala, former Executive Chairman of Karu Local Government Council, has condemned the fatal stampede that resulted in the reported deaths of over four undergraduate students of Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK) on Friday morning.

DAILY POST reports that the stampede occurred during a rush for palliatives provided by the state government to alleviate the effects of subsidy removal in the country, leaving several other students critically injured and fighting for their lives in the hospital.

In a condolence message titled “Black Friday In My Alma Mater,” Akala, who governed Karu for three years, demanded justice for the victims.

He expressed deep sorrow, stating that the students “died because the process of collection was mismanaged by government officials who are supposed to protect your lives.”

“Rest in peace, guys. You died for no offense. You died simply because you were invited to collect a small bag of rice.

“No government palliative is worth the life of any citizen. The government must ensure that those involved in these wicked acts are brought to book and face the full wrath of the law.” He stated

Governor Abdullahi Sule had recently initiated the distribution of palliatives, including two bags of 7.5kg rice and N5,000 each, to students of tertiary institutions in the state.

However, the exercise was marred by irregularities, with many beneficiaries only receiving rice.

The situation escalated at NSUK, the state-owned university, on Friday, March 22, with the majority of the targeted beneficiaries, was marred by irregularities, leading to the fatal stampede.