Nigeria School Fair Stampede Kills 35 Children

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

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

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

“8 individuals have actually given that been jailed for their various participations”, police representative Adewale Osifeso stated in a statement.

Among those apprehended was the 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 included.

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu on Thursday in a statement “revealed profound unhappiness over the terrible event”.

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

He advised the “Oyo State government to take every essential step to avoid such a tragedy from returning”, the statement by the presidency added.

“Among the essential actions are a thorough evaluation of all public events’ precaution, rigorous enforcement of security policies, and regular safety audits of occasion venues,” Tinubu included.

– ‘Rest in peace’ –

Nigeria has actually seen several deadly stampedes in current months.

In March, 2 students died and 23 were hurt after being squashed as thousands collected totally free 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 business person in the northern city of Bauchi to collect 5,000 naira ($3.40) cash gifts to help pay for food during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Witnesses stated members of the crowd pressed to get hold of the cash, triggering a stampede, as Nigeria grappled 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 households and enjoyed ones impacted by this tragedy. May the souls of the departed rest in peace,” Makinde said.

“We sympathise with the moms and dads whose delight has unexpectedly been turned to mourning due to these deaths,” he added.