Nigeria School Fair Stampede Kills 35 Children

This aerial photograph 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 six others, cops said on Thursday.

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

“8 individuals have because been jailed for their numerous involvements”, police representative 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 included.

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu on Thursday in a declaration “revealed profound sadness over the tragic event”.

He provided his “sincere condolences” to locals, state authorities and the “mourning households who have actually lost their precious children”.

He prompted the “Oyo State government to take every necessary step to avoid such a catastrophe from persisting”, the statement by the presidency included.

“Among the vital actions are a detailed evaluation of all public occasions’ security measures, stringent enforcement of safety guidelines, and regular safety audits of event places,” Tinubu added.

– ‘Rest in peace’ –

Nigeria has seen numerous deadly stampedes in current months.

In March, two students passed away and 23 were after being crushed as thousands gathered for free bags of rice given out by local authorities at Nasarawa State University, in central Nigeria.

Later that month, another stampede eliminated 4 ladies who had been waiting outside the office of a rich businessman in the northern city of Bauchi to collect 5,000 naira ($3.40) cash presents to assist spend for food during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Witnesses said members of the crowd pressed to acquire the money, causing a stampede, as Nigeria faced its worst financial crisis 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 households and enjoyed ones affected by this catastrophe. May the souls of the left rest in peace,” Makinde stated.

“We sympathise with the parents whose joy has actually unexpectedly been turned to grieving due to these deaths,” he included.