Nigeria School Fair Stampede Kills 35 Children

This aerial photo reveals a basic 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 killed 35 children and seriously hurt 6 others, police stated on Thursday.

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

“8 persons have actually since been jailed for their various participations”, authorities representative Adewale Osifeso stated in a declaration.

Among those detained 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 unhappiness over the awful incident”.

He offered his “heartfelt condolences” to residents, state authorities and the “grieving households who have actually lost their beloved kids”.

He urged the “Oyo State federal government to take every necessary step to prevent such a tragedy from reoccurring”, the declaration by the presidency included.

“Among the vital actions are a detailed review of all public occasions’ safety steps, stringent enforcement of security regulations, and routine safety audits of event locations,” Tinubu added.

– ‘Rest in peace’ –

Nigeria has seen several lethal stampedes in recent months.

In March, two trainees passed away and 23 were injured after being squashed as thousands gathered totally of rice handed out by local authorities at Nasarawa State University, in central Nigeria.

Later that month, another stampede eliminated 4 women who had actually been waiting outside the workplace of a wealthy businessman in the northern city of Bauchi to gather 5,000 naira ($3.40) money presents to assist pay for food throughout the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Witnesses stated members of the crowd pressed to acquire the cash, triggering a stampede, as Nigeria faced its worst recession in a generation.

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

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

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