Tragedy struck in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital when many elderly women were killed and several others injured in a stampede at Charity House residence of former Governor Bukola Saraki.

The incident happened on Wednesday night when the elderly women were receiving the annual Sallah gift usually doled out by Saraki as part of the Eid-el-Kabir celebration.

However, there were conflicting reports on the casualty figure.

A source at the Sobi Specialist Hospital mortuary where the corpses were deposited told Daily Trust yesterday that he counted 20 dead bodies at the hospital.

But state chapter of the Peo-ples Democratic Party (PDP) confirmed the incident in a state-ment by its spokesman, Alhaji Mas'ud Adebimpe claiming how-ever only four people lost their lives.

Independent investigation by Daily Trust, however, revealed more casualties contrary to the claim by the PDP.

Some of the victims' names as obtained by our correspondent from a reliable source included Rasheedat Adua, Ile Adua Oke Suna; Alhaja Aminat Ayodele, Balogun-Fulani, Ilorin; Ibitayo Abdullah, Osin Ita Elepa, Ilorin; Aminat Mojisola Abdulganiyu, Olodo compound Abayawo, Ilorin; and Afusat Muhammad of 31 Kudimoh Street, Ilorin.

Others were Abibat Musa of 215 Ologbin compound, Adeta; Afusat Soliu, 24, Onikere Compound Sabo line Oke; Mulikat Bolaji, Ile Sootan lane Adodo, Agbaji Compound; Miss Alimat of Atatalo Compound, Alore; Fatimoh Abdulkadir, Ile Muse compound, Ilorin; Nayimat Ismail, Alalubosa compound Kuntu area.

Contacted, the Chief Medical Director of state-owned Sobi Hos-pital Dr. Stephen Arigidi declined comment and referred our corres-pondent to the Ministry of Health.

All efforts to get the Com-missioner for Health, Alhaji Abdul Isa, proved abortive as he did not pick calls put to his mobile phone. He did not also reply text sent to him as at the time of filing this report.