Nigeria School Fair Stampede Kills 35 Children

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

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

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

“8 persons have actually since been arrested for their various involvements”, cops spokesperson Adewale Osifeso stated in a declaration.

Among those apprehended 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 opened a probe, Osifeso included.

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

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

He urged the “Oyo State government to take every required measure to avoid such a catastrophe from reoccurring”, the statement by the presidency added.

“Among the essential actions are an extensive review of all public occasions’ precaution, rigorous enforcement of security guidelines, and routine security audits of event places,” Tinubu included.

– ‘Rest in peace’ –

Nigeria has seen numerous deadly stampedes in current months.

In March, 2 trainees passed away and 23 were harmed after being squashed as thousands gathered free of charge bags of rice handed out by local authorities at Nasarawa State University, in central Nigeria.

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

Witnesses stated members of the crowd pushed to get hold of the cash, triggering a stampede, as Nigeria grappled with its worst economic crisis in a generation.

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

“Our hearts remain with the households and loved ones impacted by this tragedy. May the souls of the left rest in peace,” Makinde stated.

“We sympathise with the parents whose pleasure has unexpectedly been turned to mourning due to these deaths,” he added.