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 happened

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

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

“8 individuals have given that been apprehended for their numerous involvements”, authorities representative Adewale Osifeso stated 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 statement “revealed profound unhappiness over the tragic incident”.

He provided his “heartfelt acknowledgements” to locals, state authorities and the “mourning families who have lost their precious kids”.

He advised the “Oyo State government to take every necessary step to avoid such a catastrophe from returning”, the declaration by the presidency included.

“Among the necessary actions are a comprehensive review of all public occasions’ safety steps, strict enforcement of security policies, and routine security audits of occasion venues,” Tinubu included.

in peace’ –

Nigeria has actually seen several lethal stampedes in current months.

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

Later that month, another stampede eliminated four women who had been waiting outside the workplace of a rich business owner in the northern city of Bauchi to gather 5,000 naira ($3.40) money gifts to help pay for food throughout the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Witnesses stated members of the crowd pressed to get hold of the cash, causing 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 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 joy has unexpectedly been turned to mourning due to these deaths,” he included.