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 actually killed 35 children and seriously injured 6 others, authorities 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 said.

„8 individuals have because been apprehended for their different participations”, cops spokesperson Adewale Osifeso said in a statement.

Among those detained was the primary sponsor 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 added.

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

He offered his „wholehearted condolences” to locals, state authorities and the „grieving families who have lost their cherished children”.

He advised the „Oyo State government to take every essential procedure to prevent such a tragedy from persisting”, the statement by the presidency included.

„Among the vital actions are an extensive evaluation of all public events’ safety steps, stringent enforcement of security regulations, and routine security audits of occasion venues,” Tinubu added.

– ‘Rest in peace’ –

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

In March, two trainees died and 23 were harmed after being squashed as thousands collected free of charge bags of rice distributed by local authorities at Nasarawa State University, in main Nigeria.

Later that month, another stampede killed 4 ladies who had been waiting outside the office of a wealthy business person in the northern city of Bauchi to collect 5,000 naira ($3.40) money gifts to assist spend for food throughout 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 had actually 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 departed rest in peace,” Makinde said.

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