Nigeria School Fair Stampede Kills 35 Children

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

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

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

“8 persons have considering that been arrested for their different involvements”, authorities representative Adewale Osifeso said in a statement.

Among those apprehended was the main sponsor of the occasion 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 profound unhappiness over the terrible event”.

He used his “heartfelt condolences” to locals, state authorities and the “grieving families who have actually lost their cherished kids”.

He prompted the “Oyo State government to take every necessary measure to avoid such a tragedy from returning”, the declaration by the presidency added.

“Among the essential actions are an extensive review of all public events’ safety measures, rigorous enforcement of safety regulations, and regular safety audits of occasion locations,” Tinubu included.

– ‘Rest in peace’ –

Nigeria has actually seen several in recent months.

In March, two students passed away and 23 were harmed after being crushed as thousands gathered for totally free bags of rice distributed by local authorities at Nasarawa State University, in main Nigeria.

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

Witnesses said members of the crowd pressed to get hold of the money, causing a stampede, as Nigeria grappled with its worst recession in a generation.

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

“Our hearts remain with the families and loved ones impacted by this tragedy. May the souls of the departed rest in peace,” Makinde stated.

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