The victory celebration of the president-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari has turned sour for some families as about 25 persons have been reported dead in the process in Abuja, Kano, Benue and Niger states on Wednesday, April 1, 2015.
Seventeen of the victims died in Kano, four died in Abuja, three in Kontagora, Niger State and one in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, while several others sustained injuries.
Contrarily, Kano State police operatives claimed only seven bodies of unknown person were discovered by their men after the celebration in the night of Tuesday, March 31, 2015.
According to a man identified as Ali Sufi of Naibawa quarters who witnessed one of the incidents, a driver of Toyota Camry rammed into the jeering crowd killing three of the victims at Naibawa U-turn.
Sufi, further disclosed that one Sabo Ali, an ad hoc staff of Etisalat, was killed alongside his friend when a reckless driver knocked them down at Ungwa Uku end of Zaria Road within Kano metropolis.
Ali’s death was confirmed by his guardian, identified as Mallam Idi Naibawa, who stated that he died in the early hours of Wednesday, April 1, 2015 at Malam Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital from injuries he sustained in the accident.
He said, “A good Samaritan, who identified Sabo’s motorcycle reported the accident, and our fear was confirmed at Yarakwa police station that rescued and took him to the hospital.
“We have accepted his death as a fulfilment of destiny and barring any hitch, Sabo would be buried before 5p.m. local time today (yesterday).”
Another man, Ibrahim Dogo who resides at Naibawa quarters, disclosed that a driver rammed into two teenagers who died in the accident along Zaria Road.
He said, “We received two dead bodies this morning at the Tiga Naibawa quarters and we are set to bury them.”
Reports from Hotoro also confirmed the death of six youngsters during the crazy celebration that engulfed the commercial city.
Another source known as Masaud Badamasi added, “We lost six boys to the crazy celebration last night and we are getting ready to give then a heroic burial.”
Two other persons from Gwarzo local government were reportedly crushed to death in a car accident while two others were reported dead in Bachirawa/Kurna axis of the city according to Vanguard.
Confirming the incidents, Kano State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Magaji Majia, said, “We discovered seven dead bodies of unknown persons on the streets after the celebration and investigations has commenced on how and why it happened.”
The police further disclosed that they have sponsored radio jingles as part of efforts to enlighten the residents on how to celebrate victory without further incidents.
