Tragedy: About 16 Feared Dead At Nigeria Immigration Recruitment Centers

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, News, Uncategorized Sunday, March 16th, 2014

…PDP Mourns Victims, Calls for Investigation

By Muyiwa Bamidele, Abuja

A tragic stampede among Nigerian jobseekers at a recruitment center at the national stadium, Abuja and around the country has left over 16 people dead and many injured.

Job seekers at National Assembly Abuja venue of the NIS recruitment center

Reports say about 50 of the applicants were injured in the stampede that arose as the applicants tried to gain entry into the stadium through only one entrance.

Our correspondent reports that over 100,00 applicants showed up for the test. Only about 5,000 positions are to be filled by the immigration service.

Meanwhile, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has said it is extremely grieved by the death of young Nigerians during the Saturday’s stampede at the recruitment exercise of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).

The PDP in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh on Saturday said it was “shocked and deeply saddened by the news of the untimely death of the young citizens who were at the exercise not only to secure jobs but to be allowed the opportunity to contribute towards the development of the nation.”

The party said it was “unfortunate and disheartening that the victims paid the supreme price while trying to be more useful to the nation.”

The PDP charged all government agencies and parastatals, as well as all its elected and appointed officials at all levels to redouble their efforts in curbing unemployment in the country.