The police in a swift reaction to the report dismissed it as untrue, while Governor Ahmed Makarfi in a radio and television broadcast instituted a seven-man probe panel into the allegation.

The stampede started at Tudun Wada area of Kaduna metropolis at about 9a.m when some youths alleged that they saw people in police uniform burying corpses in the Muslim cemetery. The youths claimed to have identified some of the dead bodies to be their relations and went on the rampage. Within minutes, the Kaduna Central market was closed while shops and stores were hurriedly locked up by their owners as people ran helter-skelter for their lives. Other sources said the police killed robbery suspects and buried the corpses at the Muslim cemetery and youths noticed it and started destroying property.

However, there had been an uneasy calm at Tudun Wada area since October 11, 2004 when the police killed a 12-year-old secondary school student, Muhammadu Sani Idris, for allegedly taking part in the four-day nationwide strike organised by a coalition of civil society groups and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

Late Sani Idris was said to have left school early on the fateful day to attend the naming ceremony of his younger brother when the police bullets felled him. The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Assistant Superintendent Saad Yahaya, denying alleged mass burial yesterday said those peddling the rumour were out to smear the image of the police. His words: “The attention of the command has been drawn to a story making the round that the police killed innocent persons and hurriedly buried them in the Tudun Wada area of Kaduna State.

The command wishes to reiterate that the rumour currently being circulated is intended to instigate members of the public against the police, thereby hampering our operations and cause chaos Furthermore, Police do not engage in the burying of dead robbers. This is the sole responsibility of mortuary/local government personnel, which is done from time to time. The incident this morning may not be unconnected with such exercise. Accordingly, all law-abiding citizens of the state are advised to go about their lawful business and discountenance such rumours, please.”

Gov Makarfi sets up panel

Meanwhile, Kaduna State government has set up a seven-man panel to investigate the cause of the stampede which led to several deaths in the state yesterday. The panel which is headed by former Military Governor of the defunct North Western State, Alhaji Usman Farouk, has Mallam Adamu Mohammed Mansur as Secretary. Other members are Mr. Danladi Nyam, Sheik Zubairu Sirajo, Mr. Chukwura Simon and Alhaji Sule Bako.

Governor Makarfi in a radio and television broadcast last night also empowered the committee to investigate the circumstances which led to the killing of 12- year-old Mohammadu Sani Idris by the police during the four-day nationwide strike. Makarfi said yesterday’s crisis was sparked off by the mass burial of suspected armed robbers who died during different gun battles with the police.

Said he: “From what we have gathered so far, even though not conclusive, some people were given a mass burial after which the corpses where said to have been exhumed by people who might have suspected some ulterior motives.
“From the little that is available at this moment, the corpses are said to be those of suspected armed robbers who were said to have engaged the police in gun battles in the various operations that the police have been undertaking.

“Government is, of course, aware that the police have been conducting several operations that include raids to flush out armed robbers from certain crime prone areas and high ways and in the process gun battles ensued, claiming lives on both sides. This is not to say, however, that we have reached a conclusion on this matter.
“People of Kaduna State would also recall that we have always been at the vanguard of being on the side of our people who have unjustly suffered from acts of agents of state security even to the point of demanding for and getting compensation and prosecution. I want to assure you that this too will not be an exception where investigation confirms the innocence of the dead people.

“Government of Kaduna State over which I humbly have the privilege to preside has always been very respectful of the sanctity of human life. This explains why we place a high premium on the security of our people. We, therefore, intend to get to the roots of this issue so that at the end of the day, nobody will be left in any doubt as to what has truly happened. This is why in our quest to dig into this matter with a view to ensuring justice to all, I have constituted a high powered panel of people of proven integrity to investigate the event leading to the deaths of the people and the aftermath.

The terms of reference are: “to ascertain the truth about the entire episode; to identify the corpses and events leading to their deaths and to consider any other factors and make recommendations to government.

“We would also recall the unfortunate incident of last week at the commencement of the NLC strike during which a school boy, Mohammed Sani Idris lost his life. Even though the government has already asked for an investigation into the circumstances of his death, from the police, given the nature and circumstances that have given birth to the committee, I have decided to include investigations into the circumstances leading to Mohammadu Sani Idris’s death as part of this committee’s terms of reference.

“Meanwhile, I send my personal condolences as well the condolences of the government of Kaduna State to the parents and relatives of the deceased. I want to assure you all that government will not fold its arms and watch people take the laws into their hands under whatever guise.

“I have consequently directed all the security agents to intensify patrols and surveillance to ensure that any threat to peace is nipped in the bud. I, therefore,  advise parents  to keep more than an eye on their children and wards to avoid being on the wrong side of the law.

“It is important here to dispel the rumour said to be making the round  that the corpses were those of the people arrested in the wake of last week’s demonstration against the increase in fuel prices. Information at government's disposal has confirmed that all the 30 people arrested in connection with that episode have been granted bail by a court of law presided over by Magistrate Nasiru Lere. So, in other that we get the facts of this matter straight, it is necessary that issues are not mixed up and we shouldn’t allow people with other motives to confuse us in pursuit of their nefarious acts.

“Let me also seize this opportunity to sound a note of warning to commercial motorcyclists who resort to taking the law into their hands at the slightest provocation. Members of the public have been complaining loudly about this propensity for violence. This is totally unacceptable. Government will not allow any group or individual to hold the society to ransom for whatever reason. We will, therefore, not hesitate to apply whatever measure, including banning their operations in any town or even the entire state if they cannot find a way of channeling their grievances.”