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 happened

A stampede at a school funfair in the southwestern Nigerian city of Ibadan has actually eliminated 35 kids and seriously hurt 6 others, police stated on Thursday.

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

« 8 persons have since been detained for their numerous participations », cops spokesperson Adewale Osifeso said 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 included.

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu on Thursday in a declaration « expressed profound sadness over the awful occurrence ».

He offered his « wholehearted acknowledgements » to locals, state authorities and the « grieving families who have lost their beloved kids ».

He prompted the « Oyo State federal government to take every necessary step to prevent such a catastrophe from returning », the declaration by the presidency added.

« Among the vital actions are a thorough review of all public occasions’ precaution, rigorous enforcement of security policies, and regular security audits of occasion places, » Tinubu included.

– ‘Rest in peace’ –

Nigeria has seen several lethal stampedes in recent months.

In March, two died and 23 were injured after being squashed as thousands gathered for complimentary bags of rice handed out by local authorities at Nasarawa State University, in main Nigeria.

Later that month, another stampede eliminated four females who had been waiting outside the workplace of a rich business person in the northern city of Bauchi to collect 5,000 naira ($3.40) money gifts to help pay for food throughout the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Witnesses said members of the crowd pressed to acquire the cash, causing a stampede, as Nigeria faced its worst recession in a generation.

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

« Our hearts stay with the households and enjoyed ones affected by this disaster. May the souls of the departed rest in peace, » Makinde said.

« We sympathise with the moms and dads whose pleasure has unexpectedly been turned to mourning due to these deaths, » he added.