Nigeria School Fair Stampede Kills 35 Children

This aerial photo shows 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 hurt 6 others, police stated on Thursday.

The hurt kids were receiving medical attention following the incident, which happened on Wednesday in Nigeria’s third-largest city, Oyo State Police Command stated.

“8 individuals have actually since been arrested for their various participations”, cops spokesperson Adewale Osifeso said in a statement.

Among those apprehended was the main sponsor of the event at the Basorun Islamic High School, which was organised 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 extensive sadness over the tragic incident”.

He used his “genuine condolences” to residents, state authorities and the “mourning households who have lost their cherished kids”.

He urged the “Oyo State government to take every needed procedure to prevent such a catastrophe from persisting”, the declaration by the presidency added.

“Among the necessary actions are an extensive evaluation of all public events’ precaution, rigorous enforcement of safety policies, and routine safety audits of occasion locations,” Tinubu added.

– ‘Rest in peace’ –

Nigeria has actually seen several fatal stampedes in current months.

In March, two trainees died and 23 were hurt after being crushed as thousands gathered for totally free bags of rice distributed by local authorities at Nasarawa State University, in main Nigeria.

Later that month, another stampede killed four women who had been waiting outside the office of a wealthy businessman in the city of Bauchi to gather 5,000 naira ($3.40) money presents to help spend for food during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Witnesses stated members of the crowd pushed 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 actually shared his condolences for the Ibadan victims on X on Wednesday.

“Our hearts stay with the households and liked ones impacted by this disaster. May the souls of the departed rest in peace,” Makinde stated.

“We sympathise with the moms and dads whose joy has suddenly been turned to grieving due to these deaths,” he included.