Nigeria School Fair Stampede Kills 35 Children

This aerial photo reveals a general view of the city of Ibadan in southwestern Nigeria, where the incident took place

A stampede at a school funfair in the southwestern Nigerian city of Ibadan has actually eliminated 35 kids and seriously hurt 6 others, authorities said on Thursday.

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

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

Among those detained 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 opened a probe, Osifeso added.

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

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

He urged the “Oyo State government to take every necessary measure to prevent such a catastrophe from reoccurring”, the statement by the presidency added.

“Among the necessary actions are a thorough evaluation of all public events’ safety steps, rigorous enforcement of security policies, and regular security audits of occasion locations,” Tinubu included.

– ‘Rest in peace’ –

Nigeria has actually seen several fatal stampedes in current months.

In March, 2 students died and 23 were injured after being crushed as thousands collected for free bags of rice handed out by regional authorities at Nasarawa State University, in central Nigeria.

Later that month, another stampede eliminated 4 women who had actually been waiting outside the office of a rich businessman in the northern city of Bauchi to collect 5,000 naira ($3.40) money presents to help spend for food throughout the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Witnesses stated members of the crowd pressed to acquire the money, triggering a stampede, as Nigeria faced its worst financial crisis in a generation.

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

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

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