11 killed in Nigeria stampedes

At least 11 people have been confirmed dead in two stampedes that occurred during the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) recruitment exercises in Abuja and Rivers State, an official said Saturday.

Tayo Haastrup, spokesperson for the National Hospital in Nigeria's capital Abuja, told reporters that seven people were brought in dead from the venue of exercise, Xinhua reported.

He said the hospital was stabilising those brought in unconscious from the stampede, while other casualties had been taken to other hospitals, including Asokoro General Hospital.

In the oil-rich state of Rivers, four people were reportedly killed during a stampede that marred the recruitment process.

A source at the state-owned Braithwaite Memorial Hospital in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers, said 12 people were brought to the hospital after the stampede.

"I can confirm to you that four have died, four others in critical condition while four were treated and discharged," the hospital source said.