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 took place

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

The hurt kids were getting medical attention following the incident, which took place on Wednesday in Nigeria’s third-largest city, Oyo State Police Command said.

“8 persons have since been jailed for their numerous involvements”, authorities representative Adewale Osifeso said in a declaration.

Among those apprehended 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 included.

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu on Thursday in a statement “revealed extensive sadness over the terrible occurrence”.

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

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

“Among the vital actions are a detailed review of all public occasions’ security measures, rigorous enforcement of security guidelines, and routine security audits of event venues,” .

– ‘Rest in peace’ –

Nigeria has seen numerous deadly stampedes in current months.

In March, two students died and 23 were harmed after being squashed as thousands collected for complimentary bags of rice handed out by local authorities at Nasarawa State University, in main Nigeria.

Later that month, another stampede eliminated 4 women who had actually been waiting outside the office of a wealthy businessman in the northern city of Bauchi to collect 5,000 naira ($3.40) cash presents to assist spend for food throughout the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Witnesses said members of the crowd pressed to get hold of the money, triggering a stampede, as Nigeria grappled with its worst recession in a generation.

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

“Our hearts stay with the families and enjoyed ones affected by this tragedy. May the souls of the departed rest in peace,” Makinde said.

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