Nigeria School Fair Stampede Kills 35 Children

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

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

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

“8 individuals have actually considering that been apprehended for their various participations”, police spokesperson Adewale Osifeso said in a declaration.

Among those detained was the main 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 opened a probe, Osifeso included.

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

He offered his “wholehearted condolences” to locals, state authorities and the “mourning families who have actually lost their cherished children”.

He advised the “Oyo State government to take every required step to prevent such a catastrophe from persisting”, the statement by the presidency included.

“Among the vital actions are a thorough evaluation of all public events’ precaution, stringent enforcement of security guidelines, and routine security audits of occasion places,” Tinubu included.

– ‘Rest in peace’ –

Nigeria has seen several lethal stampedes in current months.

In March, two students passed away and 23 were harmed after being crushed as thousands collected for complimentary bags of rice distributed by regional authorities at Nasarawa State University, in main Nigeria.

Later that month, another stampede killed four ladies who had been waiting outside the office of a rich business owner in the of Bauchi to gather 5,000 naira ($3.40) cash presents to help spend for food during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

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

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

“Our hearts stay with the households and loved ones impacted by this disaster. May the souls of the left rest in peace,” Makinde said.

“We sympathise with the parents whose pleasure has actually all of a sudden been turned to mourning due to these deaths,” he included.