Nigeria School Fair Stampede Kills 35 Children

This reveals a basic 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 children and seriously hurt six others, authorities said on Thursday.

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

“8 persons have because been arrested for their various involvements”, cops representative Adewale Osifeso stated in a statement.

Among those detained 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 opened a probe, Osifeso added.

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu on Thursday in a declaration “revealed profound sadness over the tragic event”.

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

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

“Among the necessary actions are an extensive review of all public occasions’ security procedures, stringent enforcement of safety policies, and regular safety audits of occasion venues,” Tinubu included.

– ‘Rest in peace’ –

Nigeria has seen numerous fatal stampedes in recent months.

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

Later that month, another stampede eliminated four ladies who had actually been waiting outside the office of a rich entrepreneur in the northern city of Bauchi to gather 5,000 naira ($3.40) cash gifts to help pay for food during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Witnesses said members of the crowd pressed to acquire the money, causing a stampede, as Nigeria faced its worst recession in a generation.

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

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

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