A stampede during the distribution of annual Ramadan alms in Katsina, Nigeria, resulted in the deaths of at least four people, police confirmed Sunday.
The incident occurred on February 26, 2026, at approximately 9 p.m. in the Kofar-Guga quarters. Police received a distress call reporting a large crowd gathered at the residence of a local philanthropist distributing zakat, or obligatory alms, leading to a crush.
A police team responded promptly to the scene. Injured victims were transported to a nearby hospital for urgent medical care. Despite these efforts, four of those injured later died from their wounds.
The Katsina State Police Command, in a statement by spokesperson DSP Aliyu Abubakar, expressed regret over the tragedy. Commissioner of Police Mr. Bello Shehu offered condolences to the families of the deceased and wished a speedy recovery to the injured.
The police have opened an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the stampede. Commissioner Shehu emphasized that such events require coordination with authorities. He urged individuals and organizations planning public charitable distributions to notify the police command in advance to ensure adequate security and crowd management, aiming to prevent future occurrences.
The tragedy highlights the recurring risk of crowd crushes during large-scale, unregulated humanitarian distributions in densely populated areas. Police say their directive aims to balance charitable efforts with public safety, ensuring order and protecting lives during high-attendance events, particularly during the holy month of Ramadan.
