Nigeria School Fair Stampede Kills 35 Children

This aerial picture 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 kids and seriously injured 6 others, authorities stated on Thursday.

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

“8 individuals have since been apprehended for their different participations”, police representative Adewale Osifeso said in a declaration.

Among those apprehended was the main 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 included.

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

He used his “genuine acknowledgements” to residents, state authorities and the “grieving households who have lost their precious kids”.

He the “Oyo State federal government to take every required step to prevent such a catastrophe from reoccurring”, the statement by the presidency included.

“Among the essential actions are an extensive review of all public occasions’ precaution, stringent enforcement of security regulations, and regular safety audits of occasion locations,” Tinubu added.

– ‘Rest in peace’ –

Nigeria has seen numerous fatal stampedes in current months.

In March, two students died and 23 were harmed after being crushed as thousands collected for complimentary bags of rice given out by regional authorities at Nasarawa State University, in central Nigeria.

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

Witnesses said members of the crowd pushed to acquire the cash, causing a stampede, as Nigeria grappled with its worst financial crisis in a generation.

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

“Our hearts stay with the families and enjoyed ones affected by this catastrophe. May the souls of the departed rest in peace,” Makinde said.

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