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 eliminated 35 children and seriously hurt 6 others, police said on Thursday.

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

“8 individuals have considering that been jailed for their various involvements”, authorities representative Adewale Osifeso said in a statement.

Among those detained 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 actually opened a probe, Osifeso included.

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu on Thursday in a statement “expressed extensive sadness over the awful occurrence”.

He used his “sincere condolences” to residents, state authorities and the “mourning households who have actually lost their cherished children”.

He prompted the “Oyo State federal government to take every required step to prevent such a catastrophe from returning”, the declaration by the presidency added.

“Among the important actions are a thorough evaluation of all public events’ safety measures, strict enforcement of safety regulations, and regular security audits of event venues,” Tinubu included.

– ‘Rest in peace’ –

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

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

Later that month, another stampede eliminated 4 women who had been waiting outside the office of a rich businessman in the northern city of Bauchi to collect 5,000 naira ($3.40) money presents to help spend for food throughout the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Witnesses said members of the crowd pressed to acquire the cash, triggering a stampede, as Nigeria came to grips with its worst economic crisis in a generation.

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde had 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 departed rest in peace,” stated.

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