Nigeria School Fair Stampede Kills 35 Children

This aerial picture reveals a general view of the city of Ibadan in southwestern Nigeria, where the occurrence happened

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

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

„8 persons have actually because been arrested for their different participations”, cops representative Adewale Osifeso stated in a declaration.

Among those detained was the main 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 declaration „expressed profound unhappiness over the terrible occurrence”.

He used his „wholehearted acknowledgements” to locals, state authorities and the „mourning households who have lost their cherished children”.

He urged the „Oyo State government to take every needed measure to prevent such a tragedy from repeating”, the statement by the presidency added.

„Among the important actions are a comprehensive evaluation of all public occasions’ precaution, rigorous enforcement of safety policies, and regular security audits of occasion places,” Tinubu added.

– ‘Rest in peace’ –

Nigeria has seen numerous fatal stampedes in recent months.

In March, 2 students died and 23 were harmed after being crushed as thousands gathered totally free bags of rice given out by local authorities at Nasarawa State University, in main Nigeria.

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

Witnesses said members of the crowd pushed to get hold of the money, triggering a stampede, as came to grips 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 enjoyed ones impacted by this catastrophe. May the souls of the departed rest in peace,” Makinde stated.

„We sympathise with the moms and dads whose pleasure has suddenly been turned to grieving due to these deaths,” he added.