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 eliminated 35 children and seriously hurt 6 others, cops said on Thursday.

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

“8 persons have considering that been jailed for their numerous participations”, authorities spokesperson Adewale Osifeso said in a statement.

Among those apprehended was the main 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 opened a probe, added.

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

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

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

“Among the essential actions are a thorough review of all public events’ safety measures, rigorous enforcement of security regulations, and routine security audits of occasion locations,” Tinubu included.

– ‘Rest in peace’ –

Nigeria has seen several lethal stampedes in current months.

In March, two trainees died and 23 were hurt after being squashed as thousands collected free of charge bags of rice distributed by regional authorities at Nasarawa State University, in main Nigeria.

Later that month, another stampede eliminated four women who had actually been waiting outside the workplace of a rich businessman in the northern city of Bauchi to gather 5,000 naira ($3.40) cash presents to assist pay 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 grappled with its worst recession in a generation.

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

“Our hearts remain with the households and enjoyed ones affected by this catastrophe. May the souls of the departed rest in peace,” Makinde stated.

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