Nigeria School Fair Stampede Kills 35 Children

This aerial photo reveals a general 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 eliminated 35 children and seriously six others, police said on Thursday.

The injured 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 apprehended for their different involvements”, cops 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 actually opened a probe, Osifeso added.

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu on Thursday in a statement “expressed extensive unhappiness over the tragic occurrence”.

He provided his “sincere condolences” to locals, state authorities and the “grieving families who have lost their beloved kids”.

He urged the “Oyo State federal government to take every necessary measure to avoid such a tragedy from persisting”, the statement by the presidency included.

“Among the necessary actions are an extensive review of all public occasions’ security measures, strict enforcement of safety guidelines, and routine security audits of event places,” Tinubu added.

– ‘Rest in peace’ –

Nigeria has seen numerous fatal stampedes in current months.

In March, two trainees passed away and 23 were hurt after being crushed as thousands gathered free of charge bags of rice distributed by regional authorities at Nasarawa State University, in main Nigeria.

Later that month, another stampede killed 4 ladies who had actually been waiting outside the workplace of a rich business person in the northern city of Bauchi to collect 5,000 naira ($3.40) cash gifts to help pay for food throughout the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Witnesses stated members of the crowd pressed to acquire the cash, triggering a stampede, as Nigeria grappled with 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 enjoyed ones impacted by this disaster. May the souls of the departed rest in peace,” Makinde said.

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