Nigeria School Fair Stampede Kills 35 Children

This aerial picture reveals a general 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 children and seriously injured 6 others, police stated on Thursday.

The injured children were receiving medical attention following the incident, which occurred on Wednesday in Nigeria’s third-largest city, Oyo State Police Command said.

“8 individuals have actually since been arrested for their numerous participations”, cops spokesperson Adewale Osifeso stated in a declaration.

Among those detained 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 opened a probe, Osifeso added.

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

He used his “genuine condolences” to locals, state authorities and the “mourning households who have lost their cherished children”.

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

“Among the important actions are a thorough evaluation of all public events’ precaution, stringent enforcement of safety guidelines, and routine security audits of event places,” Tinubu included.

– ‘Rest in peace’ –

Nigeria has seen numerous lethal stampedes in current months.

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

Later that month, another stampede eliminated four females who had been waiting outside the office of a rich entrepreneur in the northern city of Bauchi to collect 5,000 naira ($3.40) money presents to assist spend for food throughout the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Witnesses stated members of the crowd pressed to acquire the cash, causing a stampede, as Nigeria faced its worst economic crisis in a .

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

“Our hearts remain with the families 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 pleasure has suddenly been turned to mourning due to these deaths,” he added.