Nigeria School Fair Stampede Kills 35 Children

This aerial picture reveals a basic view of the city of Ibadan in southwestern Nigeria, where the incident occurred

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

The hurt children 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 considering that been apprehended for their various participations”, authorities representative Adewale Osifeso said in a statement.

Among those detained was the primary 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 actually opened a probe, Osifeso included.

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

He provided his “genuine acknowledgements” to locals, state authorities and the “mourning families who have actually lost their beloved children”.

He urged the “Oyo State federal government to take every essential procedure to avoid such a catastrophe from reoccurring”, the declaration by the presidency added.

“Among the important actions are a comprehensive review of all public events’ precaution, stringent enforcement of safety guidelines, and routine security audits of occasion locations,” Tinubu included.

– ‘Rest in peace’ –

Nigeria has seen a number of fatal stampedes in recent months.

In March, two students died and 23 were injured after being squashed as thousands collected totally free bags of rice distributed by regional authorities at Nasarawa State University, in main Nigeria.

Later that month, another stampede killed four ladies who had been waiting outside the office of a rich entrepreneur in the northern 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 to acquire the cash, causing a stampede, as Nigeria grappled 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 enjoyed ones affected by this disaster. May the souls of the departed rest in peace,” Makinde stated.

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