Nigeria School Fair Stampede Kills 35 Children

This aerial photo shows a basic view of the city of Ibadan in southwestern Nigeria, where the event took place

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

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

“8 persons have actually since been jailed for their numerous involvements”, cops spokesperson Adewale Osifeso stated in a statement.

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 FM radio.

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 unhappiness over the awful incident”.

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

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

“Among the important actions are a comprehensive review of all public events’ precaution, stringent enforcement of safety regulations, and regular safety audits of occasion venues,” Tinubu included.

– ‘Rest in peace’ –

Nigeria has actually seen several fatal stampedes in recent months.

In March, 2 trainees died and 23 were hurt after being crushed as thousands gathered free of charge bags of rice given out by local authorities at Nasarawa State University, in central Nigeria.

Later that month, another stampede eliminated four ladies who had been waiting outside the workplace of a wealthy business person in the northern city of Bauchi to gather 5,000 naira ($3.40) money gifts to help pay for food throughout the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Witnesses said members of the crowd pressed to get hold of the money, triggering a stampede, as Nigeria came to grips with its worst financial crisis in a generation.

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

“Our hearts stay with the families and loved ones impacted by this catastrophe. May the souls of the left rest in peace,” Makinde said.

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