Nigeria School Fair Stampede Kills 35 Children

This aerial picture reveals a general view of the city of Ibadan in southwestern Nigeria, where the incident occurred

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

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

«8 persons have actually because been apprehended for their various participations», Adewale Osifeso said in a declaration.

Among those apprehended was the primary 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 added.

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu on Thursday in a declaration «revealed extensive sadness over the awful occurrence».

He offered his «wholehearted condolences» to residents, state authorities and the «grieving families who have lost their precious kids».

He prompted the «Oyo State federal government to take every needed step to prevent such a disaster from reoccurring», the declaration by the presidency added.

«Among the important actions are a comprehensive review of all public events’ precaution, strict enforcement of security guidelines, and routine safety audits of occasion places,» Tinubu included.

– ‘Rest in peace’ –

Nigeria has actually seen several fatal stampedes in recent months.

In March, two students died and 23 were harmed after being squashed as thousands gathered free of charge bags of rice handed out by local authorities at Nasarawa State University, in central Nigeria.

Later that month, another stampede killed 4 females who had actually been waiting outside the office of a wealthy business owner in the northern city of Bauchi to gather 5,000 naira ($3.40) cash presents to assist spend for food during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Witnesses stated members of the crowd pushed to get hold of the money, causing a stampede, as Nigeria came to grips with its worst financial crisis in a generation.

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

«Our hearts remain with the families and enjoyed ones impacted by this tragedy. May the souls of the left rest in peace,» Makinde said.

«We sympathise with the moms and dads whose joy has actually unexpectedly been turned to mourning due to these deaths,» he included.