Three Dead, Including Mother and Daughter, in Niger Government House Stampede

At least three individuals, including a mother and her daughter, died and numerous others were injured after a crush at the Niger State Government House in Minna. The wounded are receiving care at Minna General Hospital. Reports indicate the incident happened on Tuesday night, September 29, 2026. Young people said to be connected to a planned demonstration over the deaths of 37 artisanal miners were reportedly asked to come to the Government House in order to abandon the protest. Among the deceased were Dije and her daughter Hurairat. Both were internally displaced persons from Allawa community in Shiroro Local Government Area. Hurairat's husband, Abubakar, a butcher, was reportedly killed by bandits in 2023 along the Allawa-Pandogari Road. After that attack and the emptying of Allawa community, Hurairat had resided in Minna as an IDP. Dije, who had been living with her husband as an IDP in Gurmana, went to see her daughter Hurairat. While together, the two learned that the governor would hand out money at the Government House, and they headed there. Mallam Musa Allawa, an IDP, told Daily Trust that Dije and Hurairat were to be buried at 10am on Wednesday. Before the stampede, sources including some gubernatorial appointees posted on social media that youths had assembled at the Government House to express support for Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago. One appointee told Daily Trust that more people, including women, later rushed to the Government House after word spread that the governor would give N10,000 to those who had gathered. Contacted for comment, Bologi Ibrahim, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, said the government would issue a statement at a later time.