Nigeria School Fair Stampede Kills 35 Children

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

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

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

“8 persons have actually since been apprehended for their various participations”, cops representative Adewale Osifeso stated in a declaration.

Among those detained was the of the occasion 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 opened a probe, Osifeso included.

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

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

He urged the “Oyo State government to take every needed measure to avoid such a tragedy from returning”, the statement by the presidency included.

“Among the essential actions are a thorough review of all public events’ precaution, strict enforcement of safety regulations, and routine security audits of occasion locations,” Tinubu included.

– ‘Rest in peace’ –

Nigeria has seen several deadly stampedes in current months.

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

Later that month, another stampede killed 4 ladies who had actually been waiting outside the workplace of a wealthy businessman in the northern city of Bauchi to gather 5,000 naira ($3.40) money gifts to help spend for food during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Witnesses said members of the crowd pressed to get hold of the cash, 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 stay with the households and loved ones affected by this tragedy. May the souls of the departed rest in peace,” Makinde said.

“We sympathise with the moms and dads whose pleasure has all of a sudden been turned to grieving due to these deaths,” he added.