Samuel Akala, the former Executive Chairman of Karu Local Government Council, has strongly condemned the tragic stampede that resulted in the reported deaths of over four undergraduate students of Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK) on Friday morning.
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 heartfelt condolence message titled “Black Friday In My Alma Mater,” Akala, who governed Karu for three years, demanded justice for the victims, expressing deep sorrow and stating that the students “died because the process of collection was mismanaged by government officials who are supposed to protect your lives.”
He emphasized, “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.”
The distribution of palliatives, initiated by Governor Abdullahi Sule, included two bags of 7.5kg rice and N5,000 each, for students of tertiary institutions in the state. However, the exercise was marred by irregularities, with many beneficiaries receiving only rice.
