Nigerian stampedes for government jobs kill at least 16 across country
A woman is helped after fainting during a recruitment drive at the national stadium in Abuja, Nigeria. Photograph: Deji Yake/EPAOfficials and activists say at least 16 people died in stampedes when a half million people were invited to apply for fewer than 5,000 Nigerian government jobs.
Interior Minister Abba Moro said the deaths occurred at five locations around the country on Saturday. He said they "lost their lives through their impatience.\’\’
Activists said the Interior Ministry had registered more then 500,000 people to take a test to qualify for 4,556 vacancies at the Nigeria Immigration Service.
There is a high level of unemployment in Nigeria, especially among young people. In 2011, it stood at 23.9 percent.
Source: Agencies
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