Head of Clinical Services at the Federal Medical Centre, Keffi, Dr. Ahmed Kana, says the Friday [today] stampede at Nasarawa State University affected more females than males.
According to Kana, the two students that died were females, while 13 out of the 14 injured students were also females.
The victims and survivors reportedly met their fate as they joined the rush to loot bags of rice brought to the campus by the Nasarawa State Government.
The hospital said the students overpowered security men at the gate and swooped on the rice as the governor was being awaited to start the sharing process.
Kana confirmed the casualty figure in an interview with newsmen.
Governor Abdullahi Sule had embarked on a palliative initiative for students of tertiary institutions in the state to alleviate their hardship.
Students of the Federal University, Lafia; College of Education, Akwanga; and College of Agriculture, Lafia had benefited from the initiative and the state university was to take its turn on Friday [today].
Details of the initiative showed that each student was expected to receive a 7.5kg bag of rice and N5,000 cash.
The governor was scheduled to extend the same gesture to the university students on Friday, but before he arrived, some students went to the convocation square and looted the rice, which led to the fatal stampede.
According to Kana, the two students confirmed dead are females, while 13 of the 14 wounded casualties are also females.
“Only one of the injured students is a male.
“For now, most of them are stable and we are resuscitating others. By God’s grace, some of them will go home very soon,” he said.
He appreciated the effort of the security agencies in the handling of the situation.
“They did a good job. They handled the situation appropriately.
“What is important for us now is to treat the emergency cases and ensure there is no more fatality.
“We can later call the management of Nasarawa State University to discuss the matter,” he said.
