Nigeria School Fair Stampede Kills 35 Children

This aerial photo reveals 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 killed 35 children and seriously hurt six 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 said.

« 8 persons have since been jailed for their various involvements », cops spokesperson Adewale Osifeso said in a statement.

Among those detained was the main sponsor of the occasion at the Basorun Islamic High School, which was 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 « revealed extensive unhappiness over the terrible occurrence ».

He used his « heartfelt condolences » to residents, state authorities and the « mourning families who have lost their precious children ».

He urged the « Oyo State federal government to take every essential procedure to avoid such a disaster from persisting », the statement by the presidency added.

« Among the vital actions are a comprehensive review of all public occasions’ precaution, stringent enforcement of safety regulations, and routine security audits of occasion venues, » Tinubu included.

– ‘Rest in peace’ –

Nigeria has seen several fatal stampedes in current months.

In March, 2 students died and 23 were harmed after being crushed as thousands gathered for complimentary bags of rice handed out by regional authorities at Nasarawa State University, in main Nigeria.

Later that month, another stampede eliminated four females who had actually been waiting outside the office of a wealthy businessman in the northern city of Bauchi to collect 5,000 naira ($3.40) money gifts 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, causing a stampede, as Nigeria faced its worst recession in a generation.

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde had actually shared his acknowledgements 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 left rest in peace, » Makinde said.

« We sympathise with the moms and dads whose happiness has actually all of a sudden been turned to mourning due to these deaths, » he added.