Nigeria School Fair Stampede Kills 35 Children

This aerial photo reveals a basic view of the city of Ibadan in southwestern Nigeria, where the event took place

A stampede at a school funfair in the southwestern Nigerian city of Ibadan has eliminated 35 children and seriously injured six others, police said on Thursday.

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

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

Among those detained was the 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 included.

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

He provided his “heartfelt condolences” to residents, state authorities and the “mourning households who have lost their beloved kids”.

He prompted the “Oyo State government to take every required measure to prevent such a tragedy from repeating”, the declaration by the presidency included.

“Among the essential actions are a comprehensive evaluation of all public events’ precaution, rigorous enforcement of security regulations, and regular security audits of event venues,” Tinubu included.

– ‘Rest in peace’ –

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

In March, 2 students died and 23 were harmed after being crushed as thousands gathered for totally free bags of rice given out by regional authorities at Nasarawa State University, in central Nigeria.

Later that month, another stampede eliminated 4 females who had actually been waiting outside the office of a wealthy entrepreneur in the northern city of Bauchi to collect 5,000 naira ($3.40) money gifts to help 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 faced its worst recession 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 households and liked ones impacted by this tragedy. May the souls of the departed rest in peace,” Makinde stated.

“We sympathise with the parents whose delight has all of a sudden been turned to mourning due to these deaths,” he included.