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 occurred

A stampede at a school funfair in the southwestern Nigerian city of Ibadan has eliminated 35 kids and seriously injured 6 others, authorities said on Thursday.

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

“8 individuals have actually because been detained for their different participations”, police spokesperson Adewale Osifeso stated in a statement.

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 actually opened a probe, Osifeso included.

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu on Thursday in a statement “expressed extensive unhappiness over the terrible incident”.

He offered his “wholehearted condolences” to locals, state authorities and the “mourning families who have lost their precious children”.

He urged the “Oyo State government to take every required step to prevent such a disaster from persisting”, the declaration by the presidency included.

“Among the necessary actions are a comprehensive evaluation of all public events’ safety steps, stringent enforcement of security regulations, and routine security audits of occasion places,” Tinubu included.

– ‘Rest in peace’ –

Nigeria has actually seen numerous lethal stampedes in recent months.

In March, 2 trainees died and 23 were injured after being squashed as thousands gathered totally free bags of rice handed out by regional authorities at Nasarawa State University, in central Nigeria.

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

Witnesses said members of the crowd pressed to get hold of the cash, causing a stampede, as came to grips with its worst recession in a generation.

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

“Our hearts stay with the households and loved ones affected by this tragedy. May the souls of the departed rest in peace,” Makinde said.

“We sympathise with the moms and dads whose joy has all of a sudden been turned to mourning due to these deaths,” he added.