The death toll from Friday night’s ‘thank you’ party by departing Governor Bukola Saraki of Nigeria’s central Kwara state has risen to 25, the local media reported Sunday. The state government however put the death toll at 2, while the police said they do not have a figure yet. The stampede occurred when some ‘hoodlums’ who could not gain access to the venue of the party pulled the gates, which collapsed on some of the revellers, triggering the stampede.
The venue, in the capital city of Ilorin, was strewn with clothes, sandals and left-over food on Saturday, while some people were seen evacuating the seats and other items used for the party.
Gov. Bukola’s two, four-year tenure has expired, and he has won election into the Senate.