Nigeria School Fair Stampede Kills 35 Children

This aerial photograph reveals a general view of the city of Ibadan in southwestern Nigeria, where the incident took place

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

The hurt children were receiving medical attention following the incident, which occurred on Wednesday in Nigeria’s third-largest city, Oyo State Police Command said.

“8 individuals have since been arrested for their various participations”, cops representative Adewale Osifeso said in a statement.

Among those detained was the main sponsor of the event 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 statement “expressed extensive unhappiness over the tragic occurrence”.

He offered his “heartfelt acknowledgements” to locals, state authorities and the “grieving families who have actually lost their cherished kids”.

He advised the “Oyo State federal government to take every necessary step to prevent such a catastrophe from returning”, the statement by the presidency added.

“Among the essential actions are a comprehensive evaluation of all public events’ precaution, stringent enforcement of safety regulations, and regular safety audits of event venues,” Tinubu added.

– ‘Rest in peace’ –

Nigeria has actually seen numerous fatal stampedes in current months.

In March, 2 students passed away and 23 were after being crushed as thousands gathered totally free bags of rice given out by local authorities at Nasarawa State University, in central Nigeria.

Later that month, another stampede killed four females who had been waiting outside the workplace of a rich businessman in the northern city of Bauchi to gather 5,000 naira ($3.40) cash presents to help pay for food throughout the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Witnesses stated members of the crowd pushed to get hold of the cash, causing a stampede, as Nigeria grappled with its worst recession 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 families and enjoyed ones impacted by this catastrophe. May the souls of the left rest in peace,” Makinde stated.

“We sympathise with the parents whose joy has actually all of a sudden been turned to mourning due to these deaths,” he included.