Nigeria School Fair Stampede Kills 35 Children

This aerial photo reveals a basic view of the city of Ibadan in southwestern Nigeria, where the occurrence occurred

A stampede at a school funfair in the southwestern Nigerian city of Ibadan has actually killed 35 kids and seriously hurt six others, cops said on Thursday.

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

“8 individuals have because been apprehended for their various involvements”, cops spokesperson Adewale Osifeso said in a declaration.

Among those detained was the primary sponsor of the occasion 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 added.

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu on Thursday in a statement “revealed extensive unhappiness over the awful event”.

He offered his “wholehearted condolences” to locals, state and the “mourning families who have actually lost their cherished kids”.

He advised the “Oyo State federal government to take every necessary procedure to avoid such a tragedy from returning”, the declaration by the presidency added.

“Among the essential actions are an extensive evaluation of all public events’ precaution, stringent enforcement of security policies, and routine safety audits of event venues,” Tinubu included.

– ‘Rest in peace’ –

Nigeria has actually seen several deadly stampedes in current months.

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

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

Witnesses said members of the crowd pressed to acquire 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 enjoyed ones affected by this catastrophe. 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 grieving due to these deaths,” he included.