Nigeria School Fair Stampede Kills 35 Children

This aerial picture reveals a general view of the city of Ibadan in southwestern Nigeria, where the event occurred

A stampede at a school funfair in the southwestern Nigerian city of Ibadan has killed 35 kids and seriously hurt 6 others, police stated on Thursday.

The hurt children were receiving medical attention following the event, which took location on Wednesday in Nigeria’s third-largest city, Oyo State Police Command stated.

“8 individuals have actually considering that been arrested for their different participations”, police spokesperson Adewale Osifeso said in a declaration.

Among those detained was the main sponsor of the occasion at the Basorun Islamic High School, which was organised 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 declaration “revealed profound sadness over the tragic event”.

He used his “heartfelt condolences” to locals, state authorities and the “mourning families who have lost their cherished kids”.

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

“Among the essential actions are a detailed evaluation of all public events’ precaution, rigorous enforcement of security guidelines, and routine safety audits of occasion locations,” Tinubu included.

– ‘Rest in peace’ –

Nigeria has seen a number of lethal stampedes in current months.

In March, two trainees passed away and 23 were injured after being crushed as thousands collected free of charge bags of rice given out by regional authorities at Nasarawa State University, in central Nigeria.

Later that month, another stampede killed 4 women who had actually been waiting outside the office of a wealthy business owner in the of Bauchi to gather 5,000 naira ($3.40) cash presents to help pay for food during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Witnesses stated members of the crowd pushed to acquire the money, triggering a stampede, as Nigeria grappled with its worst recession in a generation.

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

“Our hearts stay with the families 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 actually unexpectedly been turned to grieving due to these deaths,” he added.