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Nigeria School Fair Stampede Kills 35 Children

This aerial photograph reveals a basic 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 eliminated 35 children and seriously hurt 6 others, police stated on Thursday.

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

“8 persons have since been jailed for their different participations”, police spokesperson Adewale Osifeso stated in a declaration.

Among those apprehended was the primary sponsor of the event at the Basorun Islamic High School, which was 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 statement “expressed profound sadness over the tragic event”.

He provided his “genuine acknowledgements” to locals, state authorities and the “mourning households who have actually lost their beloved children”.

He advised the “Oyo State government to take every necessary procedure to avoid such a disaster from repeating”, the declaration by the presidency included.

“Among the important actions are a thorough review of all public events’ precaution, strict enforcement of security policies, and routine safety audits of event venues,” Tinubu added.

– ‘Rest in peace’ –

Nigeria has actually seen numerous fatal stampedes in recent months.

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

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

Witnesses stated members of the crowd pressed to acquire the money, triggering a stampede, as Nigeria grappled with its worst financial crisis in a generation.

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

“Our hearts remain with the families and liked ones impacted by this disaster. May the souls of the left rest in peace,” Makinde said.

“We sympathise with the parents whose happiness has all of a sudden been turned to grieving due to these deaths,” he added.