Nigeria School Fair Stampede Kills 35 Children

This aerial picture shows a general view of the city of Ibadan in southwestern Nigeria, where the incident took place

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

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

“8 persons have actually because been arrested for their various involvements”, authorities spokesperson Adewale Osifeso stated in a declaration.

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 actually opened a probe, Osifeso included.

President Bola Tinubu on Thursday in a declaration “expressed extensive unhappiness over the tragic occurrence”.

He used his “genuine acknowledgements” to locals, state authorities and the “grieving families who have actually lost their precious kids”.

He urged the “Oyo State government to take every essential procedure to prevent such a catastrophe from reoccurring”, the statement by the presidency included.

“Among the necessary actions are a detailed review of all public events’ safety steps, rigorous enforcement of safety policies, and regular safety audits of event venues,” Tinubu included.

– ‘Rest in peace’ –

Nigeria has seen numerous deadly stampedes in current months.

In March, two trainees died and 23 were injured after being crushed as thousands gathered free of charge bags of rice distributed by regional authorities at Nasarawa State University, in main Nigeria.

Later that month, another stampede eliminated 4 ladies who had been waiting outside the office of a wealthy businessman in the northern city of Bauchi to collect 5,000 naira ($3.40) money gifts to help pay for food during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Witnesses said members of the crowd pushed to get hold of the money, triggering a stampede, as Nigeria faced its worst financial crisis 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 families and loved ones impacted by this tragedy. May the souls of the left rest in peace,” Makinde said.

“We sympathise with the parents whose joy has suddenly been turned to mourning due to these deaths,” he added.