Nigeria School Fair Stampede Kills 35 Children

This aerial photo reveals a general view of the city of Ibadan in southwestern Nigeria, where the incident happened

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

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

“8 persons have because been arrested for their numerous involvements”, police spokesperson Adewale Osifeso stated 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 added.

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu on Thursday in a declaration “expressed profound unhappiness over the terrible event”.

He offered his “genuine acknowledgements” to residents, state authorities and the “grieving households who have actually lost their cherished children”.

He urged the “Oyo State government to take every required measure to avoid such a catastrophe from persisting”, the declaration by the presidency included.

“Among the important actions are a comprehensive review of all public occasions’ safety measures, rigorous enforcement of safety regulations, and routine safety audits of occasion venues,” Tinubu included.

– ‘Rest in peace’ –

Nigeria has seen numerous lethal stampedes in current months.

In March, two students died and 23 were harmed after being squashed as totally free bags of rice given out by regional authorities at Nasarawa State University, in central Nigeria.

Later that month, another stampede killed four ladies who had actually been waiting outside the workplace of a rich business owner in the northern city of Bauchi to gather 5,000 naira ($3.40) cash presents to help pay for food throughout the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Witnesses stated members of the crowd pressed to acquire the cash, causing a stampede, as Nigeria grappled with its worst financial crisis in a generation.

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

“Our hearts stay with the families and loved ones affected by this catastrophe. May the souls of the left rest in peace,” Makinde said.

“We sympathise with the parents whose delight has actually all of a sudden been turned to grieving due to these deaths,” he added.