Nigeria School Fair Stampede Kills 35 Children

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

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

The injured children were getting medical attention following the incident, which happened on Wednesday in Nigeria’s third-largest city, Oyo State Police Command stated.

“8 persons have since been jailed for their various participations”, police spokesperson Adewale Osifeso stated in a declaration.

Among those apprehended was the main 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 opened a probe, Osifeso included.

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu on Thursday in a declaration “expressed profound sadness over the awful incident”.

He used his “sincere acknowledgements” to residents, state authorities and the “mourning households who have actually lost their beloved children”.

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

“Among the vital actions are a detailed review of all public occasions’ safety procedures, rigorous enforcement of safety guidelines, and regular safety audits of occasion locations,” Tinubu added.

– ‘Rest in peace’ –

Nigeria has seen numerous deadly stampedes in recent months.

In March, two students passed away and 23 were injured after being squashed as for free bags of rice handed out by regional authorities at Nasarawa State University, in central Nigeria.

Later that month, another stampede killed four women who had been waiting outside the office of a rich businessman in the northern city of Bauchi to collect 5,000 naira ($3.40) money presents to help pay for food during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Witnesses said members of the crowd pushed to acquire the cash, 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 remain with the households and liked ones affected by this catastrophe. May the souls of the departed rest in peace,” Makinde said.

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