Nigeria School Fair Stampede Kills 35 Children

This aerial photograph reveals a general 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 killed 35 children and seriously hurt 6 others, police said on Thursday.

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

« 8 individuals have actually since been jailed for their numerous participations », authorities 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 opened a probe, Osifeso included.

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu on Thursday in a statement « expressed profound unhappiness over the terrible event ».

He offered his « wholehearted condolences » to residents, state authorities and the « grieving families who have actually lost their beloved children ».

He advised the « Oyo State federal government to take every required measure to avoid such a tragedy from returning », the statement by the presidency included.

« Among the vital actions are a comprehensive evaluation of all public events’ security procedures, strict enforcement of security guidelines, and regular safety audits of occasion locations, » Tinubu included.

– ‘Rest in peace’ –

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

In March, 2 trainees died and 23 were harmed after being squashed as thousands gathered totally free bags of rice distributed by regional authorities at Nasarawa State University, in central Nigeria.

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

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

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

« Our hearts remain with the families and liked ones affected by this tragedy. May the souls of the left rest in peace, » Makinde said.

« We sympathise with the moms and dads whose pleasure has actually unexpectedly been turned to mourning due to these deaths, » he included.