The Katsina State Police Command has begun an investigation into the death of four persons following a stampede during a Ramadan alms distribution in Kofar Guga Quarters of Katsina State.
The incident occurred on February 26, 2026, after a large crowd gathered at the residence of a philanthropist, Alhaji Dahiru Usman Sarki, for an alms-giving exercise.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the command’s Public Relations Officer, Aliyu Abubakar, said the police received a distress call around 9 pm reporting that the crowd had become uncontrollable, resulting in a stampede.
Officers were immediately deployed to the scene, and victims were rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment. Four of the injured were later confirmed dead.
Abubakar added that several others sustained injuries and are currently receiving medical attention.
The Commissioner of Police, Bello Shehu, expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and wished the injured a speedy recovery. He also ordered a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident and directed that preventive measures be implemented to avoid a recurrence.
The police command urged individuals and organisations planning similar charity events to notify authorities in advance to ensure adequate security and crowd control arrangements.
The tragedy has renewed concerns over crowd management during large-scale public distributions. In December 2024, dozens of people reportedly lost their lives in separate stampedes in Oyo, Anambra and the Federal Capital Territory during food distribution and children’s events, prompting calls for stricter safety planning at mass gatherings.
Police said further updates would be provided as investigations progress.
