Nigeria School Fair Stampede Kills 35 Children

This aerial photograph shows a general view of the city of Ibadan in southwestern Nigeria, where the incident occurred

A stampede at a school funfair in the southwestern Nigerian city of Ibadan has actually eliminated 35 kids and seriously injured six others, authorities said on Thursday.

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

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

Among those apprehended was the main 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 actually opened a probe, Osifeso added.

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

He provided his “wholehearted condolences” to locals, state authorities and the “mourning households who have lost their precious children”.

He advised the “Oyo State federal government to take every required step to avoid such a disaster from persisting”, the declaration by the presidency included.

“Among the essential actions are a comprehensive evaluation of all public events’ precaution, strict enforcement of security guidelines, and regular security audits of event venues,” Tinubu included.

in peace’ –

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

In March, 2 trainees died and 23 were hurt after being squashed as thousands gathered for complimentary bags of rice distributed by local authorities at Nasarawa State University, in central Nigeria.

Later that month, another stampede killed four females 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 assist pay for food during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Witnesses said members of the crowd pushed to acquire the cash, causing a stampede, as Nigeria came to grips with its worst recession in a generation.

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

“Our hearts remain with the households and enjoyed ones affected by this disaster. May the souls of the left rest in peace,” Makinde said.

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