Four persons were said to have died yesterday in Kogi State as hundreds of residents thronged a warehouse in Lokoja, the state capital, in search of COVID-19 palliatives.
Daily Trust learnt the fatalities resulted from a stampede as residents, mostly women, rushed to the warehouse located along the Murtala Mohammed Way, close to Kpata market in Lokoja.
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The state government had last week commenced distribution of COVID-19 palliatives to the 21 local government areas.
Each local government area got at least, one trailer load of palliative items, including rice, semovita, indomie noodles and pastas in 10 kilogram packs.
The siege on the warehouse, it was gathered, might not be unconnected with an order by Governor Yahaya Bello that the remaining items be distributed to people.
A source said that the casualties were recorded despite warnings by security personnel deployed to the area on need for to maintain the peace and avoid anything that may lead to stampede.
Meanwhile, the government has expressed appreciation to residents who turned out to share in the palliatives.
The Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, in a statement. yesterday said: “Report at our disposal showed that local government authorities ensured the palliatives reached the masses and helped in ameliorating the hardship visited on our nation as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We urge our people to continue to stand tall in public conduct as government will always put their welfare on the front burners”.
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