Nigeria School Fair Stampede Kills 35 Children

This aerial photo reveals a basic view of the city of Ibadan in southwestern Nigeria, where the occurrence happened

A stampede at a school funfair in the city of Ibadan has killed 35 kids and seriously hurt 6 others, police said on Thursday.

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

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

Among those apprehended was the primary 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 statement “revealed profound sadness over the tragic event”.

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

He prompted the “Oyo State government to take every essential procedure to avoid such a disaster from repeating”, the declaration by the presidency added.

“Among the essential actions are a detailed evaluation of all public occasions’ security procedures, stringent enforcement of security guidelines, and routine safety audits of occasion venues,” Tinubu added.

– ‘Rest in peace’ –

Nigeria has actually seen several deadly stampedes in recent months.

In March, two trainees died and 23 were hurt after being crushed as thousands collected totally free bags of rice handed out by regional authorities at Nasarawa State University, in main Nigeria.

Later that month, another stampede killed 4 women who had been waiting outside the office of a rich business owner in the northern city of Bauchi to gather 5,000 naira ($3.40) money presents to assist spend for food throughout the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Witnesses said members of the crowd pressed to acquire the cash, triggering a stampede, as Nigeria faced 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 stay with the families and liked ones impacted by this disaster. May the souls of the left rest in peace,” Makinde stated.

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