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 took place

A stampede at a school funfair in the southwestern Nigerian city of Ibadan has actually killed 35 children and seriously injured 6 others, cops stated on Thursday.

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

« 8 individuals have since been apprehended for their numerous involvements », police representative Adewale Osifeso stated in a statement.

Among those apprehended was the primary 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, Osifeso included.

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu on Thursday in a declaration « revealed extensive unhappiness over the awful event ».

He provided his « sincere condolences » to locals, state authorities and the « mourning households who have actually lost their beloved children ».

He prompted the « Oyo State federal government to take every needed procedure to prevent such a catastrophe from persisting », the statement by the presidency added.

« Among the essential actions are an extensive evaluation of all public events’ security procedures, rigorous enforcement of safety policies, and routine security audits of occasion locations, » Tinubu included.

– ‘Rest in peace’ –

Nigeria has actually seen numerous lethal stampedes in recent months.

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

Later that month, another stampede eliminated 4 women who had actually been waiting outside the office of a wealthy business owner in the northern city of Bauchi to gather 5,000 naira ($3.40) cash gifts to help 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 came to grips with its worst recession in a .

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

« Our hearts stay with the families and liked ones affected by this disaster. May the souls of the left rest in peace, » Makinde stated.

« We sympathise with the parents whose happiness has actually suddenly been turned to mourning due to these deaths, » he added.