IMMIGRATIONS RECRUITMENT: Several Feared Dead, Many Injured In Stampede

Today a large number of applicants across the country stormed different centres to write the aptitude test for the Nigerian Immigration Service(NIS).

Applicants had together gathered in the Abuja stadium to write the aptitude test to apply for jobs with the immigration Service.

There are reports that the stampede in the Abuja centre left at least seven people killed and dozens injured during the test in Abuja. Among the dead were some pregnant women.

However according to an eyewitness who was present at the scene, the casualties stated were more than that saying "It was up to fifty that were injured and 25 were dead".

Although there's has been no official list of casualties yet. The bodies of the dead applicants have been deposited at the National Hospital Abuja morgue.

Also an applicant who decided to turn back home upon seeing the massive crowd said “I can tell you that more than 100,000 people came for this test”, he said. “I have never seen this kind of crowd before in my life. Even if this was a FIFA World Cup football match, you will never get spectators this many”.

Apparently according to an eyewitness the stampede broke out as applicants rushed towards a central stage, since it was only just one entrance to the 60,000-capacity stadium that was open.
The hospital spokesman, Tayo Haastrup who confirmed the incident said “The immigration service was having a recruitment exercise at the stadium … there was a stampede and they brought the victims to the national hospital. Those with stable injuries “will be sent to other hospitals so that we can deal with the numerous injured that continue to arrive”.

The hospital could not admit many of those injured due to lack of capacity. It has also been reported that a similar incident occurred in the Port-Harcourt centre with one person feared dead and many rushed to the hospital as a result of  exhaustion.