Nigeria School Fair Stampede Kills 35 Children

This aerial photograph reveals a general 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 killed 35 children and seriously injured six others, cops said on Thursday.

The injured kids were receiving medical attention following the event, which occurred on Wednesday in Nigeria’s third-largest city, Oyo State Police Command stated.

“8 persons have considering that been arrested for their numerous participations”, police representative Adewale Osifeso said in a declaration.

Among those detained was the main sponsor of the 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 added.

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

He used his “genuine condolences” to locals, state authorities and the “mourning families who have actually lost their precious children”.

He prompted the “Oyo State federal government to take every essential step to prevent such a catastrophe from repeating”, the statement by the presidency included.

“Among the vital actions are a detailed review of all public occasions’ safety procedures, strict enforcement of security policies, and routine safety audits of occasion locations,” Tinubu added.

– ‘Rest in peace’ –

Nigeria has actually seen a number of fatal stampedes in current months.

In March, 2 trainees died and 23 were hurt after being squashed as thousands collected free of charge bags of rice distributed by regional authorities at Nasarawa State University, in main Nigeria.

Later that month, another stampede eliminated 4 females who had actually been waiting outside the office of a rich businessman in the northern city of Bauchi to gather 5,000 naira ($3.40) cash presents to help pay for food throughout the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Witnesses stated members of the crowd pressed to acquire the money, causing a stampede, as Nigeria grappled with its worst recession 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 families and enjoyed ones affected by this disaster. May the souls of the departed rest in peace,” Makinde said.

“We sympathise with the parents whose pleasure has actually suddenly been turned to grieving due to these deaths,” he added.