Nigeria School Fair Stampede Kills 35 Children

This aerial photograph shows 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 actually eliminated 35 kids and seriously injured 6 others, cops said on Thursday.

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

“8 persons have given that been apprehended for their different involvements”, police 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 arranged by the Wings Foundation and Agidigbo FM radio.

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

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu on Thursday in a statement “revealed profound sadness over the tragic occurrence”.

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

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

“Among the essential actions are a comprehensive evaluation of all public occasions’ precaution, stringent enforcement of security regulations, and routine security audits of event venues,” Tinubu included.

– ‘Rest in peace’ –

Nigeria has seen several deadly stampedes in current months.

In March, 2 trainees died and 23 were harmed after being squashed as thousands collected for complimentary bags of rice given out by local authorities at Nasarawa State University, in main Nigeria.

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

Witnesses stated members of the crowd pressed 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 enjoyed ones impacted by this disaster. May the souls of the left rest in peace,” Makinde said.

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