Nigeria School Fair Stampede Kills 35 Children

This aerial photo shows a basic view of the city of Ibadan in southwestern Nigeria, where the incident took place

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

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

« 8 individuals have given that been apprehended for their different involvements », cops representative Adewale Osifeso stated in a statement.

Among those detained was the main sponsor of the occasion 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 extensive unhappiness over the awful occurrence ».

He provided his « heartfelt acknowledgements » to locals, state authorities and the « grieving households who have actually lost their beloved kids ».

He prompted the « Oyo State government to take every necessary procedure to avoid such a catastrophe from persisting », the statement by the presidency included.

« Among the necessary actions are an extensive evaluation of all public events’ security measures, rigorous enforcement of security guidelines, and regular safety audits of occasion venues, » Tinubu added.

– ‘Rest in peace’ –

Nigeria has seen several lethal stampedes in recent months.

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

Later that month, another stampede killed 4 females who had been waiting outside the workplace of a rich business owner in the northern city of Bauchi to collect 5,000 naira ($3.40) money gifts to assist pay for food during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Witnesses said members of the crowd pushed to acquire the money, triggering a stampede, as Nigeria came to grips with its crisis in a generation.

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

« Our hearts stay with the families and enjoyed ones impacted by this catastrophe. May the souls of the departed rest in peace, » Makinde stated.

« We sympathise with the parents whose pleasure has unexpectedly been turned to grieving due to these deaths, » he added.