Nigeria School Fair Stampede Kills 35 Children

This aerial photo reveals a general 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 kids and seriously injured six others, police stated on Thursday.

The injured children were receiving medical attention following the event, which took location on Wednesday in Nigeria’s third-largest city, Oyo State Police Command said.

“8 individuals have actually given that been arrested for their different involvements”, Adewale Osifeso said in a declaration.

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 declaration “revealed profound unhappiness over the terrible occurrence”.

He provided his “sincere condolences” to locals, state authorities and the “grieving households who have actually lost their cherished children”.

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

“Among the necessary actions are a detailed evaluation of all public events’ precaution, stringent enforcement of security guidelines, and regular safety audits of event locations,” Tinubu added.

– ‘Rest in peace’ –

Nigeria has actually seen several lethal stampedes in recent months.

In March, two trainees passed away and 23 were injured after being squashed as thousands gathered for free bags of rice given out by regional authorities at Nasarawa State University, in main Nigeria.

Later that month, another stampede killed four 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) cash gifts to assist spend for food during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Witnesses said members of the crowd pushed to acquire the money, triggering a stampede, as Nigeria came to grips with its worst financial crisis in a generation.

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

“Our hearts remain with the families and liked ones affected by this tragedy. May the souls of the left rest in peace,” Makinde said.

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