Nigeria School Fair Stampede Kills 35 Children

This aerial photo shows a basic view of the city of Ibadan in southwestern Nigeria, where the occurrence took place

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

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

“8 individuals have considering that been apprehended for their numerous participations”, cops representative Adewale Osifeso stated in a declaration.

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

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

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu on Thursday in a statement “revealed extensive sadness over the terrible incident”.

He offered his “heartfelt acknowledgements” to residents, state authorities and the “mourning families who have lost their precious children”.

He urged the “Oyo State federal government to take every required step to avoid such a disaster from reoccurring”, the statement by the presidency added.

“Among the necessary actions are a comprehensive evaluation of all public events’ precaution, strict enforcement of security policies, and routine security audits of occasion venues,” Tinubu included.

– ‘Rest in peace’ –

Nigeria has actually seen several lethal stampedes in current months.

In March, two trainees died and 23 were harmed after being crushed as thousands collected for free bags of rice handed out by regional authorities at Nasarawa State University, in central Nigeria.

Later that month, another stampede eliminated four ladies who had been waiting outside the office of a rich business owner in the northern city of Bauchi to collect 5,000 naira ($3.40) money gifts to help spend for food during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Witnesses stated members of the crowd pushed to acquire the cash, causing a stampede, as Nigeria faced its worst financial crisis in a generation.

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

“Our hearts remain with the households and loved ones affected by this disaster. May the souls of the departed rest in peace,” Makinde said.

“We sympathise with the moms and dads whose delight has actually suddenly been turned to grieving due to these deaths,” he included.