Nigeria School Fair Stampede Kills 35 Children

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

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

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

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

Among those detained was the primary sponsor of the occasion at the High School, which was organised by the Wings Foundation and Agidigbo FM radio.

The Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department has actually opened a probe, Osifeso added.

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

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

He advised the “Oyo State government to take every necessary step to prevent such a tragedy from returning”, the declaration by the presidency added.

“Among the important actions are a detailed review of all public events’ security steps, strict enforcement of safety regulations, and routine security audits of event places,” Tinubu added.

– ‘Rest in peace’ –

Nigeria has seen a number of lethal stampedes in recent months.

In March, 2 students passed away and 23 were hurt after being crushed as thousands gathered for free bags of rice handed out by local authorities at Nasarawa State University, in central Nigeria.

Later that month, another stampede killed four women 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) cash presents to assist pay for food throughout the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Witnesses said members of the crowd pushed to acquire the cash, triggering a stampede, as Nigeria grappled with its worst economic crisis in a generation.

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde had shared his acknowledgements for the Ibadan victims on X on Wednesday.

“Our hearts remain with the families and loved ones impacted by this disaster. May the souls of the departed rest in peace,” Makinde stated.

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