Nigeria School Fair Stampede Kills 35 Children

This aerial photograph 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 actually eliminated 35 children and seriously injured six others, authorities said on Thursday.

The injured kids were receiving medical attention following the occurrence, which took place on Wednesday in Nigeria’s third-largest city, Oyo State said.

« 8 persons have since been detained for their different participations », authorities representative Adewale Osifeso said in a statement.

Among those detained 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 actually opened a probe, Osifeso added.

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu on Thursday in a statement « expressed extensive unhappiness over the tragic event ».

He provided his « wholehearted condolences » to residents, state authorities and the « grieving households who have actually lost their beloved children ».

He urged the « Oyo State federal government to take every essential measure to avoid such a tragedy from returning », the statement by the presidency added.

« Among the necessary actions are an extensive review of all public occasions’ security procedures, strict enforcement of safety policies, and regular safety audits of occasion venues, » Tinubu included.

– ‘Rest in peace’ –

Nigeria has actually seen numerous lethal stampedes in recent months.

In March, two students passed away and 23 were hurt after being crushed as thousands collected free of charge bags of rice given out by local authorities at Nasarawa State University, in main Nigeria.

Later that month, another stampede killed 4 women who had actually been waiting outside the office of a wealthy business person in the northern city of Bauchi to collect 5,000 naira ($3.40) cash presents to assist 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 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 enjoyed ones impacted by this disaster. May the souls of the left rest in peace, » Makinde said.

« We sympathise with the moms and dads whose happiness has all of a sudden been turned to grieving due to these deaths, » he included.