Nigeria School Fair Stampede Kills 35 Children

This aerial photo reveals a general 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 kids and seriously hurt six others, authorities stated on Thursday.

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

“8 persons have since been detained for their numerous involvements”, cops representative Adewale Osifeso stated in a .

Among those detained was the primary 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 opened a probe, Osifeso added.

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

He used his “sincere condolences” to residents, state authorities and the “mourning families who have actually lost their beloved kids”.

He urged the “Oyo State federal government to take every required procedure to avoid such a tragedy from persisting”, the declaration by the presidency added.

“Among the important actions are a comprehensive evaluation of all public events’ security procedures, rigorous enforcement of security regulations, and routine safety audits of event venues,” Tinubu added.

– ‘Rest in peace’ –

Nigeria has actually seen numerous fatal stampedes in recent months.

In March, 2 students died and 23 were injured after being squashed as thousands gathered for complimentary bags of rice distributed by regional authorities at Nasarawa State University, in main Nigeria.

Later that month, another stampede eliminated four women who had been waiting outside the office of a rich business person in the northern city of Bauchi to gather 5,000 naira ($3.40) cash presents to assist pay for food throughout the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Witnesses stated members of the crowd pushed to get hold of the cash, triggering a stampede, as Nigeria grappled 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 liked ones affected by this disaster. May the souls of the left rest in peace,” Makinde stated.

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