Nigeria School Fair Stampede Kills 35 Children

This aerial photograph reveals a basic 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 eliminated 35 children and seriously hurt six others, cops stated on Thursday.

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

“8 persons have considering that been detained for their numerous participations”, authorities representative Adewale Osifeso stated in a statement.

Among those apprehended 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 actually opened a probe, Osifeso included.

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu on Thursday in a statement “revealed extensive sadness over the tragic event”.

He offered his “sincere acknowledgements” to residents, state and the “grieving households who have actually lost their cherished kids”.

He prompted the “Oyo State government to take every required step to avoid such a tragedy from returning”, the declaration by the presidency included.

“Among the necessary actions are a detailed evaluation of all public events’ security procedures, stringent enforcement of safety regulations, and routine safety audits of event locations,” Tinubu included.

– ‘Rest in peace’ –

Nigeria has seen several lethal stampedes in recent months.

In March, two trainees died and 23 were injured after being crushed as thousands collected for totally free bags of rice distributed by regional authorities at Nasarawa State University, in central Nigeria.

Later that month, another stampede killed four women who had actually been waiting outside the workplace of a rich business person in the northern city of Bauchi to gather 5,000 naira ($3.40) money presents to help spend for food throughout the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Witnesses said members of the crowd pressed to acquire 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 remain with the families and enjoyed ones impacted by this disaster. May the souls of the left rest in peace,” Makinde stated.

“We sympathise with the parents whose joy has all of a sudden been turned to grieving due to these deaths,” he added.