Nigeria School Fair Stampede Kills 35 Children

This aerial photograph a basic view of the city of Ibadan in southwestern Nigeria, where the event happened

A stampede at a school funfair in the southwestern Nigerian city of Ibadan has actually killed 35 children and seriously hurt 6 others, authorities said on Thursday.

The injured children were getting medical attention following the occurrence, which took location on Wednesday in Nigeria’s third-largest city, Oyo State Police Command said.

“8 persons have because been apprehended for their different involvements”, cops spokesperson Adewale Osifeso stated in a statement.

Among those detained was the primary sponsor of the event at the Basorun Islamic High School, which was arranged by the Wings Foundation and Agidigbo FM radio.

The Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department has actually opened a probe, Osifeso included.

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu on Thursday in a statement “expressed profound unhappiness over the terrible event”.

He provided his “sincere condolences” to residents, state authorities and the “mourning families who have lost their precious kids”.

He advised the “Oyo State government to take every essential step to prevent such a catastrophe from persisting”, the declaration by the presidency included.

“Among the necessary actions are a comprehensive evaluation of all public occasions’ precaution, strict enforcement of security guidelines, and routine security audits of event venues,” Tinubu added.

– ‘Rest in peace’ –

Nigeria has seen numerous lethal stampedes in current months.

In March, two trainees passed away and 23 were injured after being crushed as thousands gathered for complimentary bags of rice distributed by local authorities at Nasarawa State University, in central Nigeria.

Later that month, another stampede eliminated four women who had been waiting outside the office of a rich business person in the northern city of Bauchi to gather 5,000 naira ($3.40) money presents to assist pay for food throughout the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Witnesses said members of the crowd pressed to get hold of the money, triggering a stampede, as Nigeria came to grips with its worst economic crisis in a generation.

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde had actually shared his acknowledgements for the Ibadan victims on X on Wednesday.

“Our hearts remain with the households and liked ones impacted by this catastrophe. May the souls of the left rest in peace,” Makinde stated.

“We sympathise with the parents whose delight has unexpectedly been turned to grieving due to these deaths,” he added.