Nigeria School Fair Stampede Kills 35 Children

This aerial photograph shows a general view of the city of Ibadan in southwestern Nigeria, where the event took place

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

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

“8 individuals have actually because been detained for their different involvements”, authorities representative Adewale Osifeso said in a statement.

Among those apprehended was the primary sponsor of the event 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 statement “expressed extensive sadness over the terrible event”.

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

He prompted the “Oyo State government to take every necessary step to prevent such a catastrophe from repeating”, the declaration by the presidency included.

“Among the essential actions are a comprehensive review of all public occasions’ security steps, stringent enforcement of security policies, and routine security audits of event places,” Tinubu added.

– ‘Rest in peace’ –

Nigeria has actually seen several deadly stampedes in current months.

In March, 2 trainees passed away and 23 were injured after being crushed as thousands collected for free bags of rice handed out by local authorities at Nasarawa State University, in main Nigeria.

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

Witnesses said members of the crowd pushed to get hold of the money, triggering a stampede, as Nigeria came to grips 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 tragedy. May the souls of the left rest in peace,” said.

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