16 killed in stampede in Niger's Diffa region

By Kane Illa

NIAMEY, Niger (AA) - At least 16 Nigerian refugees were killed in a stampede on Monday during a donation drive in southeastern Niger, multiple sources confirmed.

"The incident occurred when the governor of Borno State [Nigeria] was distributing rice, loincloths and cash to refugees from his country who are temporarily based in Diffa city," Mahamadou Mado, a local journalist told Anadolu Agency.

A security source, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media, also confirmed the incident and the death toll.

He said the stampede occurred as people rushed to get the essential items and even security officials deployed at the scene could not control the crowd.

Nigeria's Borno state Governor Babagana Umara Zulum has been touring the Diffa region since Saturday to inquire about the condition of Nigerian refugees.

Terrorist violence in the northeastern states of Nigeria since 2013 has forced tens of thousands of people to seek refuge in neighboring countries, including Niger.