Nigeria School Fair Stampede Kills 35 Children

This aerial photograph shows a general view of the city of Ibadan in southwestern Nigeria, where the event occurred

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

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

“8 individuals have given that been detained for their numerous participations”, authorities spokesperson Adewale Osifeso said in a declaration.

Among those apprehended was the main 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 opened a probe, Osifeso included.

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu on Thursday in a statement “revealed profound unhappiness over the terrible occurrence”.

He provided his “wholehearted condolences” to residents, state authorities and the “grieving families who have actually lost their precious kids”.

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

“Among the necessary actions are an extensive evaluation of all public events’ security procedures, stringent enforcement of safety guidelines, and regular security audits of occasion locations,” Tinubu included.

– ‘Rest in peace’ –

Nigeria has actually seen several fatal stampedes in recent months.

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

Later that month, another stampede eliminated 4 females who had actually been waiting outside the office of a wealthy business owner in the northern city of Bauchi to collect 5,000 naira ($3.40) cash presents to assist pay for food throughout the Muslim holy month of .

Witnesses said members of the crowd pushed to acquire the money, causing a stampede, as Nigeria grappled with its worst economic crisis 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 families and loved ones affected by this disaster. May the souls of the left rest in peace,” Makinde said.

“We sympathise with the moms and dads whose pleasure has unexpectedly been turned to mourning due to these deaths,” he included.