Nigeria School Fair Stampede Kills 35 Children

This aerial photograph reveals a general view of the city of Ibadan in southwestern Nigeria, where the occurrence took place

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

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

“8 persons have since been jailed for their different involvements”, cops spokesperson Adewale Osifeso stated in a statement.

Among those detained 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 opened a probe, Osifeso added.

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu on Thursday in a declaration “expressed extensive unhappiness over the awful incident”.

He used his “heartfelt condolences” to residents, state authorities and the “mourning families who have actually lost their precious kids”.

He prompted the “Oyo State federal government to take every required step to prevent such a catastrophe from persisting”, the declaration by the presidency included.

“Among the important actions are a comprehensive evaluation of all public occasions’ safety procedures, rigorous enforcement of security policies, and routine safety audits of event locations,” Tinubu included.

– ‘Rest in peace’ –

Nigeria has actually seen a number of fatal stampedes in recent months.

In March, 2 trainees passed away and 23 were hurt after being squashed as thousands gathered for of rice given out by regional 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 rich entrepreneur in the northern city of Bauchi to collect 5,000 naira ($3.40) money presents to assist pay 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 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 families and loved ones affected by this tragedy. May the souls of the left rest in peace,” Makinde stated.

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