Stampede kills three at Ekiti varsity post-convocation party

The Ekiti State Police Command has launched an investigation into the death of three persons following a stampede at a hotel in Ikere Ekiti, Ekiti State.

The incident was said to have occurred in the early hours of Sunday during an after-convocation party organised by students of Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology, which recently held its second convocation ceremony.

Sources disclosed that the celebration turned chaotic after a disagreement broke out during the party, triggering panic among attendees and leading to a stampede.

Confirming the development in a statement, the Police Public Relations Officer of the command, SP Sunday Abutu, said the Commissioner of Police, Michael Falade, had directed a thorough probe into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

According to the police, preliminary findings indicated that students moved to the hotel for a party after their convocation ceremony, which extended into the early hours of the following day.

During the event, an argument between two yet-to-be-identified students reportedly escalated into a fight, causing panic among other attendees.

“In an attempt to escape the situation, many rushed out of the premises, leading to a stampede that resulted in the death of three persons, including a hotel staff member and two students,” the statement said.

The police added that the bodies of the deceased had been deposited in a morgue for autopsy.

The Commissioner of Police commiserated with the families of the victims and assured the public that the command would leave no stone unturned in unraveling the circumstances that led to the tragedy.

Authorities have urged members of the public to remain calm as investigations continue.