President Buhari expresses sadness over Maiduguri rally tragedy
- President Muhammadu Buhari expresses shock over the collapse of a pavilion platform which injured several APC supporters at a presidential rally in Maiduguri, Borno state
- Buhari prays for the quick recovery of the persons who suffered injuries following the tragedy at the rally
- One APC supporter was said to have died, while over 50 others were reportedly injured in the incident which occurred at the Ramat Square in Maiduguri
President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed sadness over the collapse of a pavilion platform that reportedly injured dozens of APC supporters at an election campaign venue in Maiduguri, Borno state.
The senior special assistant to the president on media and publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, in a statement, said several party supporters who had wanted to have a vantage view of the speakers at the rally climbed the roofs of the pavilions.
He said one of the pavilions crashed, claiming a life of some of the spectators, while others got injured in the incident, Leadership reports.
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The presidential aide said President Buhari was shocked by the incident and prayed for the quick recovery of the persons who suffered injuries following the pavilion collapse.
“I am shocked to hear about the many who suffered injury following the tragic incident at the stadium this afternoon in Maiduguri. May Allah heal all those that were injured," Shehu, quoting the president said.
“I understand that the Borno State government, the Red Cross and other aid agencies are taking steps to help affected people. May Allah heal the injured."
Premium Times reports that at least one person died while over 50 others were injured in incident which occurred at the Ramat Square which was packed with thousands of APC supporters.
A section of the platform reportedly crumbled under the weight of people who had climbed on top of a metal pavilion constructed to provide shade at the venue.
The incident was said to have occurred midway into the event and shortly before President Buhari delivered his speech.
The collapse of the structure was said to have caused a commotion at the rally as many scampered for safety.
In another report, President Buhari had on Monday launched his reelection bid in Maiduguri and Damaturu, Borno and Yobe states respectively, with a pledge to improve on the gains recorded in the security sector.
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The president, who addressed mammoth crowd at both venues, assured the people of the two states that his re-election for a second term would provide him with the opportunity to build on his previous achievements, The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.
Meanwhile, the campaign team of the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has denied that the former vice president paid $1.1m to American lobbyist, Brian Ballard, before he was allowed to enter the US.
Legit.ng gathered that an international investigative journalist, Judd Legum, had reported in his website, Popular Information, that Abubakar, allegedly paid $1.1m to influential American lobbyist, Brian Ballard, to enter the US.
But in reacting to the allegation, a source in the Atiku's campaign group, said that allegation is far from the truth. The source accused those opposed to the PDP of trying to do everything to discredit Atiku Abubakar’s recent visit to the United States.
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