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 six others, cops stated on Thursday.

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

“8 individuals have since been detained for their numerous participations”, authorities spokesperson Adewale Osifeso said in a .

Among those apprehended 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 profound unhappiness over the tragic incident”.

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

He advised the “Oyo State government to take every necessary step to prevent such a disaster from reoccurring”, the declaration by the presidency added.

“Among the essential actions are a detailed review of all public occasions’ precaution, stringent enforcement of safety regulations, and regular security audits of occasion places,” Tinubu added.

– ‘Rest in peace’ –

Nigeria has seen numerous lethal stampedes in recent months.

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

Later that month, another stampede killed four ladies who had actually been waiting outside the workplace of a rich entrepreneur in the northern city of Bauchi to gather 5,000 naira ($3.40) money presents to assist pay for food during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Witnesses stated members of the crowd pushed to acquire the cash, triggering a stampede, as Nigeria grappled with its worst economic crisis in a generation.

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde had actually shared his condolences for the Ibadan victims on X on Wednesday.

“Our hearts stay with the families and liked ones affected by this catastrophe. May the souls of the left rest in peace,” Makinde stated.

“We sympathise with the parents whose joy has suddenly been turned to mourning due to these deaths,” he added.