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 happened

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

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

“8 individuals have actually given that been jailed for their different participations”, police representative Adewale Osifeso said in a declaration.

Among those apprehended was the main sponsor 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 actually opened a probe, Osifeso included.

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu on Thursday in a statement “expressed extensive unhappiness over the awful occurrence”.

He used his “sincere acknowledgements” to locals, state authorities and the “mourning families who have lost their precious children”.

He urged the “Oyo State federal government to take every required measure to prevent such a catastrophe from reoccurring”, the declaration by the presidency added.

“Among the vital actions are an extensive review of all public occasions’ safety measures, strict enforcement of safety regulations, and regular security audits of occasion places,” Tinubu included.

– ‘Rest in peace’ –

Nigeria has seen numerous deadly stampedes in recent months.

In March, 2 trainees died and 23 were injured after being crushed as thousands collected for free bags of rice given out by local authorities at Nasarawa State University, in central Nigeria.

Later that month, another stampede killed four females who had been waiting outside the office of a in the northern city of Bauchi to gather 5,000 naira ($3.40) cash presents to help pay for food throughout the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Witnesses stated members of the crowd pushed to acquire the money, triggering a stampede, as Nigeria grappled with its worst economic crisis 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 households and liked ones affected by this tragedy. May the souls of the departed rest in peace,” Makinde stated.

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