Nigeria School Fair Stampede Kills 35 Children

This aerial picture shows a general view of the city of Ibadan in southwestern Nigeria, where the took place

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

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

“8 individuals have actually considering that been apprehended for their numerous participations”, cops spokesperson Adewale Osifeso said in a statement.

Among those detained 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 opened a probe, Osifeso added.

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu on Thursday in a declaration “revealed extensive sadness over the terrible incident”.

He provided his “heartfelt condolences” to locals, state authorities and the “mourning families who have lost their beloved children”.

He urged the “Oyo State federal government to take every required step to avoid such a catastrophe from persisting”, the statement by the presidency added.

“Among the necessary actions are a detailed evaluation of all public events’ precaution, stringent enforcement of security regulations, and routine safety audits of occasion venues,” Tinubu added.

– ‘Rest in peace’ –

Nigeria has seen a number of fatal stampedes in current months.

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

Later that month, another stampede eliminated 4 females who had been waiting outside the workplace of a wealthy entrepreneur in the northern city of Bauchi to collect 5,000 naira ($3.40) money presents to help pay for food during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Witnesses said members of the crowd pressed to get hold of the cash, triggering a stampede, as Nigeria grappled 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 families and loved ones affected by this tragedy. May the souls of the departed rest in peace,” Makinde said.

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