Nigeria School Fair Stampede Kills 35 Children

This aerial photograph shows a basic view of the city of Ibadan in southwestern Nigeria, where the occurrence 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 children were receiving medical attention following the occurrence, which occurred on Wednesday in Nigeria’s third-largest city, Oyo State Police Command stated.

« 8 persons have since been detained for their different participations », cops spokesperson Adewale Osifeso stated in a declaration.

Among those apprehended was the primary 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 declaration « revealed profound sadness over the awful incident ».

He provided his « genuine acknowledgements » to residents, state authorities and the « grieving households who have actually lost their beloved kids ».

He urged the « Oyo State federal government to take every necessary procedure to prevent such a catastrophe from returning », the declaration by the presidency added.

« Among the vital actions are a comprehensive evaluation of all public occasions’ safety measures, stringent enforcement of safety policies, and routine safety audits of occasion places, » .

– ‘Rest in peace’ –

Nigeria has actually seen a number of lethal stampedes in recent months.

In March, 2 students passed away and 23 were injured after being crushed as thousands collected totally free bags of rice given out by local authorities at Nasarawa State University, in main Nigeria.

Later that month, another stampede eliminated 4 women who had actually been waiting outside the workplace of a wealthy businessman in the northern city of Bauchi to collect 5,000 naira ($3.40) money gifts to assist spend for food during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Witnesses stated members of the crowd pressed to get hold of the cash, causing a stampede, as Nigeria came to grips with its worst financial crisis in a generation.

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

« Our hearts stay with the households and loved ones impacted by this tragedy. May the souls of the departed rest in peace, » Makinde stated.

« We sympathise with the parents whose joy has suddenly been turned to mourning due to these deaths, » he included.