A tragic stampede occurred near House 7, the usual lodge of Governor Umar Bago in Bida Local Government Area, leaving at least one person dead and several others injured, as thousands of residents gathered allegedly to receive cash handouts ahead of the November 1 local government election.

Eyewitnesses reported that the massive crowd had assembled after being informed that the governor would distribute cash, ranging from ₦2,000 to ₦10,000, to residents.

“Just look at the amount of people here; this tells about how people are suffering,” one eyewitness lamented. “There are more than five thousand or ten thousand people gathered.”

The situation reportedly turned chaotic when word spread that Governor Bago had arrived to distribute money. Eyewitnesses described the scene as uncontrollable, with people pushing to get closer to the governor.

“The governor asks them to come around because he wants to share money. He said there is money,” another resident stated.

It is not immediately clear whether the governor eventually handed out the cash, and as of the time of reporting, he had not addressed the crowd. Some sources suggested that casualties could be higher than initially reported, although these claims have not been independently verified.

This is not the first incident of this nature under Governor Bago’s administration. Shortly after assuming office, he reportedly held regular cash distribution events at the Government House, which were eventually discontinued following accidents, including a pregnant woman losing her life and several others fainting or sustaining injuries.

The stampede underscores the deep economic hardships faced by residents in Niger State, as thousands reportedly turned out for small cash handouts despite the inherent risks.