Nigeria School Fair Stampede Kills 35 Children

This aerial picture shows a basic 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 kids and seriously hurt 6 others, police said on Thursday.

The injured kids were receiving medical attention following the event, which happened on Wednesday in Nigeria’s third-largest city, Oyo State Police Command stated.

“8 individuals have since been apprehended for their different participations”, police representative Adewale Osifeso said in a statement.

Among those apprehended was the main 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 “expressed extensive sadness over the tragic incident”.

He provided his “genuine acknowledgements” to locals, state authorities and the “grieving households who have lost their cherished kids”.

He prompted the “Oyo State government to take every needed step to prevent such a tragedy from returning”, the declaration by the presidency included.

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

– ‘Rest in peace’ –

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

In March, two trainees passed away and 23 were injured after being squashed as thousands gathered for free bags of rice handed out by local authorities at Nasarawa State University, in central Nigeria.

Later that month, another stampede killed four ladies who had actually been waiting outside the office of a rich business person 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 said members of the crowd pushed to get hold of the cash, triggering a stampede, as Nigeria came to grips with its worst economic crisis in a generation.

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

“Our hearts remain with the families and loved ones impacted by this catastrophe. May the souls of the left rest in peace,” stated.

“We sympathise with the parents whose pleasure has actually suddenly been turned to grieving due to these deaths,” he included.