About nine persons are believed to have died during a stampede that occurred at the residence of Aliyu Wamakko, former governor of Sokoto.
The stampede occurred on Thursday night as residents struggled for palliatives being shared at the home of the lawmaker in the Gawon Nama area of Sokoto.
Many others were also said to have sustained injuries.
TheCable understands that a volunteer operative of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) was among those who died in the incident.
Those who got injured during the incident were taken to hospitals for treatment.
Ahmed Rufai, spokesperson of the Sokoto police command, told TheCable on Sunday that an investigation has commenced into the incident.
Rufai said he cannot ascertain the exact figure of the casualty toll.
Wamakko is a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) representing Sokoto north district at the senate.