Immigration Service Recruitment: Three Deaths Recorded In Minna

The Minna centre of the aptitude test for recruitment  into the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) recorded three deaths on Saturday, as over 11,000 candidates jostle to take the recruitment exam.

Trouble stared when applicants at the centre overwhelmed the immigration officials who had gone to screen and accredit candidates waiting to enter the examination hall to take the exam.

Each of the over 11,000 candidates struggled hard to get accredited, a development that forced one of the officers to open tear gas on the candidate. Seven persons collapsed as a result of the tear gas and were rushed to the hospital where three persons gave up the ghost.

The candidates had complained of  the slow pace of the accreditation and became unruly when the Chief examiner from the headquarters of the service insisted on calling names of the candidates based on the serial numbers of the application forms, a decision that did not go down well with the candidates.

This development precipitated a rowdy session as most candidates who were on a queue became apprehensive and complained that the line, which was over a kilometre was not moving as anticipated.

One of the victims that was rushed to Minna General Hospital was in a critical condition while the other three injured victims are said to have been stable but quarantined from the public and the media.

Efforts to get details about the victims were fruitless as the hospital authority and staff refused to comment based on security directive.

But a medical personnel confirmed that three of the seven injured persons were dead, one in critical condition while the other three are in stable condition.

He further said that the bodies of those who died have been deposited at the mortuary .

But the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Ibrahim Sule said only two of the applicants dead. According to him, “one female was reported dead on arrival at the hospital and the other male applicant died at Minna General Hospital.?”

He also said that four other males were equally treated and discharged, while seven other females applicants are currently receiving treatment for their injuries at the hospital.

The Niger State Controller of Immigration Service, Ezekiel S. Kaura confirmed that 11,000 candidates sat for the recruitment examination in Minna centre but said that five collapsed as a result stampeded and were rushed to the hospital.

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