Nigeria School Fair Stampede Kills 35 Children

This shows a basic 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 injured 6 others, authorities stated on Thursday.

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

“8 persons have given that been arrested for their various participations”, police representative Adewale Osifeso said in a statement.

Among those detained was the primary 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 declaration “expressed profound sadness over the terrible incident”.

He provided his “wholehearted condolences” to residents, state authorities and the “mourning households who have lost their cherished kids”.

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

“Among the essential actions are a thorough review of all public occasions’ safety procedures, stringent enforcement of security policies, and regular security audits of event locations,” Tinubu added.

– ‘Rest in peace’ –

Nigeria has actually seen numerous lethal stampedes in recent months.

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

Later that month, another stampede eliminated 4 ladies who had actually been waiting outside the office of a wealthy business person in the northern city of Bauchi to gather 5,000 naira ($3.40) cash presents to help spend for food throughout the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Witnesses said members of the crowd pushed to get hold of the cash, triggering a stampede, as Nigeria grappled with its worst recession 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 loved ones affected by this tragedy. May the souls of the left rest in peace,” Makinde stated.

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