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 happened

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

The injured children were getting medical attention following the occurrence, which took location on Wednesday in Nigeria’s third-largest city, Oyo State Police Command stated.

“8 individuals have actually since been arrested for their various participations”, police representative Adewale Osifeso stated in a statement.

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 added.

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu on Thursday in a declaration “expressed extensive unhappiness over the terrible event”.

He used his “sincere acknowledgements” to locals, state authorities and the “grieving households who have lost their beloved children”.

He urged the “Oyo State federal government to take every required step to prevent such a catastrophe from reoccurring”, the statement by the presidency included.

“Among the essential actions are an extensive review of all public occasions’ safety procedures, rigorous enforcement of safety policies, and routine safety audits of occasion venues,” Tinubu added.

– ‘Rest in peace’ –

Nigeria has seen numerous lethal stampedes in current months.

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

Later that month, another stampede eliminated four women who had actually been waiting outside the office of a rich entrepreneur in the northern city of Bauchi to collect 5,000 naira ($3.40) money gifts to assist pay for food during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Witnesses said members of the crowd pushed to get hold of the cash, causing a stampede, as Nigeria came to grips with its worst financial crisis in a generation.

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

“Our hearts remain with the families and liked ones affected by this disaster. May the souls of the left rest in peace,” Makinde stated.

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