Nigeria School Fair Stampede Kills 35 Children

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

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

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

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

Among those 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 opened a probe, Osifeso included.

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu on Thursday in a statement “revealed extensive sadness over the terrible incident”.

He used his “genuine condolences” to locals, state authorities and the “mourning households who have lost their beloved kids”.

He prompted the “Oyo State federal government to take every required step to avoid such a disaster from returning”, the declaration by the presidency added.

“Among the vital actions are a detailed evaluation of all public occasions’ precaution, rigorous enforcement of security regulations, and regular safety audits of occasion venues,” Tinubu included.

– ‘Rest in peace’ –

Nigeria has seen numerous fatal stampedes in current months.

In March, 2 trainees passed away and 23 were injured after being squashed as thousands gathered totally free bags of rice given out by local authorities at Nasarawa State University, in central Nigeria.

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

Witnesses stated members of the crowd pushed to get hold of the cash, causing a stampede, as Nigeria faced its worst economic crisis in a generation.

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

“Our hearts stay with the families and enjoyed ones affected by this catastrophe. May the souls of the left rest in peace,” Makinde said.

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