Nigeria School Fair Stampede Kills 35 Children

This aerial photograph shows a basic view of the city of Ibadan in southwestern Nigeria, where the incident happened

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

“8 individuals have actually because been apprehended for their different involvements”, cops representative Adewale Osifeso stated in a declaration.

Among those detained was the primary sponsor of the event 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 statement “revealed extensive unhappiness over the awful incident”.

He used his “wholehearted acknowledgements” to locals, state authorities and the “mourning families who have lost their cherished kids”.

He prompted the “Oyo State government to take every necessary measure to avoid such a disaster from reoccurring”, the statement by the presidency added.

“Among the necessary actions are a detailed review of all public events’ precaution, strict enforcement of safety policies, and regular safety audits of event venues,” .

– ‘Rest in peace’ –

Nigeria has actually seen numerous deadly stampedes in current months.

In March, two students died and 23 were hurt after being crushed as thousands collected for totally free bags of rice handed out by local authorities at Nasarawa State University, in central Nigeria.

Later that month, another stampede killed 4 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) money gifts to help pay for food during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Witnesses said members of the crowd pushed to get hold of the cash, triggering a stampede, as Nigeria came to grips 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 stay with the households and liked ones affected by this disaster. May the souls of the left rest in peace,” Makinde said.

“We sympathise with the moms and dads whose happiness has actually suddenly been turned to grieving due to these deaths,” he included.