Nigeria School Fair Stampede Kills 35 Children

This aerial photo shows a basic view of the city of Ibadan in southwestern Nigeria, where the event occurred

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

The injured kids were getting medical attention following the incident, which took location on Wednesday in Nigeria’s third-largest city, Oyo State Police Command said.

“8 individuals have given that been jailed for their different participations”, police spokesperson Adewale Osifeso stated in a statement.

Among those apprehended was the primary sponsor of the event 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 actually opened a probe, Osifeso included.

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu on Thursday in a statement “revealed extensive unhappiness over the tragic occurrence”.

He offered his “sincere acknowledgements” to locals, state authorities and the “grieving families who have lost their beloved kids”.

He advised the “Oyo State government to take every necessary measure to avoid such a catastrophe from repeating”, the statement by the presidency added.

“Among the important actions are a detailed evaluation of all public events’ safety measures, strict enforcement of safety regulations, and regular safety audits of event places,” Tinubu included.

– ‘Rest in peace’ –

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

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

Later that month, another stampede killed four women who had actually been waiting outside the office of a rich business person 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 said members of the crowd pushed to get hold of 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 remain with the households and enjoyed ones impacted by this catastrophe. May the souls of the left rest in peace,” Makinde stated.

“We sympathise with the moms and dads whose happiness has unexpectedly been turned to grieving due to these deaths,” he included.