A female member of the aid group of the Young Muslim Congress of Nigeria (YMCN) also known as Munazzamatul Fityanul Islam slumped and died, while 10 others also slumped but were revived yesterday as the group held a procession in celebration of the Eid el-Maulud in Abuja.
Thousands of Muslim fai thful comprising students of Islamiyah schools, members of the first aid group and others from various parts of the FCT matched through some Abuja streets for the celebration.
At the event, President Muhammadu Buhari was represented by the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammadu Musa Bello.
Speaking on the incident, a female discipline officer of the group in charge of Kuje Area Council, Malama Sajida Bala Abdullahi, said the deceased identified as Asma’u (20) came for the event from Kuje.
Malama Asma’u said, “We started the procession from Mabushi in the morning and headed to the event’s venue in company of other members of our first aid group and others.
“It was when I got to the venue that I learnt that Asma’u slumped along the way and was confirmed dead.’’
It was further learnt that aside Asma’u, 10 other members of the aid group slumped during the procession.
Our reporter saw ambulances taking the victims to the hospital.
The organising committee Chairman of the procession, Dr Adamu Muhammadu Inuwa, told Daily Trust that the event originally scheduled to end at 2pm ended earlier because of the incidents.
Malam Muhammad Abani, treasurer of Jama’atu Ahbabul Rasul, Abuja branch, attributed the incidents to logistics hitches.
Malam Abani said, “The procession started around 7am when some of the participants did not have their breakfast and many of them were kept standing in the sun waiting for their turns to proceed to the venue.’’
