Nigeria School Fair Stampede Kills 35 Children

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

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

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

“8 individuals have actually given that been arrested for their different participations”, cops representative Adewale Osifeso said in a statement.

Among those apprehended 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 added.

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

He provided his “heartfelt condolences” to residents, state authorities and the “grieving families who have lost their beloved children”.

He advised the “Oyo State federal government to take every essential measure to avoid such a tragedy from persisting”, the statement by the presidency added.

“Among the essential actions are a detailed evaluation of all public events’ safety steps, strict enforcement of security regulations, and routine security audits of occasion locations,” Tinubu included.

– ‘Rest in peace’ –

Nigeria has actually seen several deadly stampedes in current months.

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

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

Witnesses stated members of the crowd pushed to acquire the cash, triggering a stampede, as Nigeria faced its worst financial crisis in a generation.

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

“Our hearts remain with the families 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 suddenly been turned to mourning due to these deaths,” he included.