Nigeria School Fair Stampede Kills 35 Children

This aerial picture reveals a basic 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 kids and seriously hurt 6 others, authorities stated on Thursday.

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

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

Among those apprehended 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 extensive sadness over the terrible event”.

He offered his “genuine acknowledgements” to locals, state authorities and the “grieving households who have actually lost their beloved kids”.

He urged the “Oyo State government to take every needed procedure to prevent such a disaster from persisting”, the declaration by the presidency added.

“Among the vital actions are a comprehensive evaluation of all public events’ security steps, rigorous enforcement of safety regulations, and regular security audits of event places,” Tinubu included.

– ‘Rest in peace’ –

Nigeria has seen numerous fatal stampedes in current months.

In March, two students died and 23 were harmed after being crushed as thousands gathered for totally free bags of rice distributed by local authorities at Nasarawa State University, in central Nigeria.

Later that month, another killed four women who had been waiting outside the office of a rich business owner 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 pushed to get hold of the cash, causing a stampede, as Nigeria faced 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 stay with the families and loved ones affected by this disaster. May the souls of the departed rest in peace,” Makinde stated.

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