Nigeria School Fair Stampede Kills 35 Children

This aerial photo shows a general 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 actually killed 35 children and seriously hurt six others, police said on Thursday.

The injured children were getting medical attention following the event, which happened on Wednesday in Nigeria’s third-largest city, Oyo State Police Command said.

“8 individuals have since been arrested for their various involvements”, police representative Adewale Osifeso stated in a declaration.

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 .

The Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department has opened a probe, Osifeso included.

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu on Thursday in a statement “expressed extensive sadness over the terrible occurrence”.

He used his “heartfelt condolences” to residents, state authorities and the “mourning households who have actually lost their beloved children”.

He advised the “Oyo State government to take every needed procedure to prevent such a tragedy from returning”, the statement by the presidency added.

“Among the necessary actions are an extensive evaluation of all public occasions’ security measures, rigorous enforcement of safety policies, and routine safety audits of event places,” Tinubu included.

– ‘Rest in peace’ –

Nigeria has seen numerous fatal stampedes in current months.

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

Later that month, another stampede eliminated 4 females who had actually been waiting outside the office of a wealthy business owner in the northern city of Bauchi to gather 5,000 naira ($3.40) cash presents to help pay for food during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Witnesses stated members of the crowd pushed to acquire the cash, triggering a stampede, as Nigeria came to grips with its worst economic crisis 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 impacted by this disaster. May the souls of the left rest in peace,” Makinde stated.

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