Nigeria School Fair Stampede Kills 35 Children

This aerial photo reveals a basic view of the city of Ibadan in southwestern Nigeria, where the event happened

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

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

“8 individuals have actually considering that been jailed for their numerous involvements”, cops spokesperson Adewale Osifeso said in a statement.

Among those apprehended 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 profound unhappiness over the tragic incident”.

He provided his “wholehearted acknowledgements” to residents, state authorities and the “grieving households who have lost their cherished kids”.

He advised the “Oyo State federal government to take every necessary step to avoid such a catastrophe from repeating”, the statement by the presidency included.

“Among the essential actions are a comprehensive review of all public events’ precaution, stringent enforcement of safety policies, and routine security audits of event locations,” Tinubu added.

– ‘Rest in peace’ –

Nigeria has actually seen a number of lethal stampedes in recent months.

In March, two away and 23 were harmed after being crushed as thousands gathered totally free bags of rice given out by regional authorities at Nasarawa State University, in central Nigeria.

Later that month, another stampede killed 4 women who had actually been waiting outside the office of a wealthy business person in the northern city of Bauchi to gather 5,000 naira ($3.40) money presents to assist spend for food during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Witnesses said members of the crowd pushed to get hold of the cash, triggering a stampede, as Nigeria faced 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 remain with the families and loved ones affected by this catastrophe. May the souls of the departed rest in peace,” Makinde stated.

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