Nigeria School Fair Stampede Kills 35 Children

This aerial photograph reveals a general view of the city of Ibadan in southwestern Nigeria, where the incident occurred

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

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

“8 individuals have actually considering that been jailed for their various participations”, authorities spokesperson Adewale Osifeso said in a declaration.

Among those detained was the primary sponsor of the occasion 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 opened a probe, Osifeso added.

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

He offered his “sincere acknowledgements” to residents, state authorities and the “grieving families who have lost their cherished children”.

He urged the “Oyo State government to take every essential procedure to avoid such a tragedy from returning”, the declaration by the presidency added.

“Among the vital actions are a comprehensive review of all public occasions’ precaution, strict enforcement of security regulations, and regular safety audits of occasion venues,” Tinubu included.

– ‘Rest in peace’ –

Nigeria has seen numerous lethal stampedes in current months.

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

Later that month, another stampede killed four females who had been waiting outside the workplace of a rich entrepreneur in the northern city of Bauchi to collect 5,000 naira ($3.40) money presents to help spend for food during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Witnesses stated members of the crowd pushed to get hold of the cash, 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 impacted by this tragedy. May the souls of the left rest in peace,” Makinde stated.

“We sympathise with the parents whose delight has actually all of a sudden been turned to grieving due to these deaths,” he added.