Nigeria's President Summons Minister, Immigration Boss Over Stampede, Deaths At Recruitment Exercise

BEVERLY HILLS, CA, March 17, (THEWILL) - President Goodluck Jonathan Monday summoned the Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Moro and the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Mr.

David Parradang, to his office following Saturday's stampede and death of at least 19 applicants at four recruitment centres of the NIS.

Hundreds of thousands of applicants turned up for the recruitment exercise held nationwide to fill about 7, 000 vacancies at the immigration agency.

The deaths and injuries were recorded at centres in Abuja, Benin, Port Harcourt and Niger States due to poor crowd management by the firms contracted to organize the exercise.

News of the deaths as well as credible reports that applicants were mandated to pay N1000 as application fees sparked outrage as several groups and stakeholders urged the President to sack the duo and authorize an investigation into the incidents.

Moro and Parradang met with President Jonathan at the Presidential Villa Abuja for almost two hours this afternoon.

The duo evaded questions from state house correspondents after the meeting.