Nigeria School Fair Stampede Kills 35 Children

This aerial picture reveals 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 eliminated 35 children and seriously injured 6 others, authorities stated on Thursday.

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

«8 individuals have because been apprehended for their numerous involvements», cops spokesperson Adewale Osifeso stated 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 actually opened a probe, Osifeso added.

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu on Thursday in a statement «revealed profound unhappiness over the awful incident».

He provided his «heartfelt condolences» to locals, state authorities and the «mourning households who have actually lost their cherished children».

He urged the «Oyo State government to take every necessary step to prevent such a catastrophe from reoccurring», the statement by the presidency included.

«Among the essential actions are a detailed review of all public occasions’ precaution, stringent enforcement of safety policies, and routine security audits of occasion locations,» Tinubu included.

– ‘Rest in peace’ –

Nigeria has seen a number of lethal stampedes in current months.

In March, two students died and 23 were injured after being squashed as thousands gathered for complimentary bags of rice given out by local authorities at Nasarawa State University, in main Nigeria.

Later that month, another stampede killed four women who had actually been waiting outside the office of a wealthy businessman in the northern city of Bauchi to gather 5,000 naira ($3.40) to assist pay for food during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Witnesses stated members of the crowd pressed to get hold of the cash, causing a stampede, as Nigeria came to grips with its worst recession in a generation.

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

«Our hearts remain with the households and loved ones affected by this disaster. May the souls of the departed rest in peace,» Makinde stated.

«We sympathise with the moms and dads whose joy has actually all of a sudden been turned to mourning due to these deaths,» he added.