15th March, 2014
A recruitment drive by Nigeria’s immigration department has turned tragic in Abuja, the nations’s capital.
At least seven persons were killed and dozens injured after thousands of panicked job-seekers stampeded at the national stadium on Saturday.
Survivors said thousands had gathered to apply for jobs with the immigration department in the Abuja stadium.
One witness said the stampede broke out as applicants surged towards a central stage. They said only one entrance to the 60,000-capacity stadium was open. It wasn’t clear how many people were inside at the time of the crush.
“The immigration service was having a recruitment exercise at the stadium … there was a stampede and they brought the victims to the national hospital,” said hospital spokesman Tayo Haastrup.
No official casualty list was given, but an AFP journalist on the scene counted seven dead and dozens injured.
Many injured people could not be admitted to hospital due to lack of capacity.
Those with stable injuries “will be sent to other hospitals so that we can deal with the numerous injured that continue to arrive,” said Haastrup.