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 occurred

A stampede at a school funfair in the southwestern Nigerian city of Ibadan has killed 35 kids and seriously injured 6 others, authorities stated on Thursday.

The injured kids were receiving medical attention following the occurrence, which on Wednesday in Nigeria’s third-largest city, Oyo State Police Command said.

“8 persons have because been detained for their numerous participations”, authorities spokesperson Adewale Osifeso stated in a declaration.

Among those detained was the main sponsor of the occasion at the Basorun Islamic High School, which was organised 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 declaration “expressed extensive unhappiness over the terrible event”.

He provided his “genuine acknowledgements” to locals, state authorities and the “grieving families who have actually lost their beloved children”.

He advised the “Oyo State government to take every required measure to prevent such a disaster from reoccurring”, the statement by the presidency included.

“Among the important actions are a comprehensive review of all public occasions’ precaution, strict enforcement of safety guidelines, and regular security audits of event places,” Tinubu included.

– ‘Rest in peace’ –

Nigeria has seen numerous fatal stampedes in current months.

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

Later that month, another stampede killed four females who had actually been waiting outside the workplace of a rich business person in the northern city of Bauchi to gather 5,000 naira ($3.40) money gifts to assist spend for food during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Witnesses stated members of the crowd pressed to get hold of the money, causing a stampede, as Nigeria grappled with 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 stay with the families and liked ones impacted by this disaster. May the souls of the departed rest in peace,” Makinde said.

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