Nigeria School Fair Stampede Kills 35 Children

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

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

The hurt 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 actually since been arrested for their different participations”, cops spokesperson Adewale Osifeso said in a declaration.

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 added.

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

He used his “genuine condolences” to residents, state authorities and the “mourning families who have actually lost their precious children”.

He advised the “Oyo State federal government to take every needed measure to prevent such a disaster from reoccurring”, the declaration by the presidency added.

“Among the necessary actions are a detailed evaluation of all public events’ safety procedures, rigorous enforcement of security guidelines, and routine safety audits of occasion venues,” Tinubu included.

– ‘Rest in peace’ –

Nigeria has actually seen several deadly stampedes in recent months.

In March, two trainees died and 23 were injured after being crushed as thousands gathered free of charge bags of rice handed out by regional authorities at Nasarawa State University, in central Nigeria.

Later that month, another stampede eliminated 4 ladies who had been waiting outside the workplace of a rich business owner 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 pressed to acquire the cash, triggering a stampede, as Nigeria grappled with its worst recession in a generation.

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

“Our hearts remain with the households and enjoyed ones affected by this disaster. May the souls of the left rest in peace,” Makinde said.

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