Nigeria School Fair Stampede Kills 35 Children

This aerial picture reveals a basic view of the city of Ibadan in southwestern Nigeria, where the event occurred

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

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

”8 persons have actually given that been jailed for their various involvements”, authorities spokesperson Adewale Osifeso said in a declaration.

Among those apprehended was the main sponsor of the event 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 actually opened a probe, Osifeso added.

Bola Tinubu on Thursday in a statement ”expressed profound sadness over the tragic occurrence”.

He used his ”heartfelt acknowledgements” to locals, state authorities and the ”grieving families who have lost their beloved kids”.

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

”Among the necessary actions are a comprehensive evaluation of all public occasions’ precaution, rigorous enforcement of security guidelines, and regular security audits of occasion locations,” Tinubu included.

– ’Rest in peace’ –

Nigeria has actually seen a number of fatal stampedes in current months.

In March, 2 students passed away and 23 were harmed after being squashed as thousands collected free of charge bags of rice handed out by local authorities at Nasarawa State University, in main Nigeria.

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

Witnesses said members of the crowd pressed to get hold of the money, causing 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 families and loved ones affected by this tragedy. May the souls of the left rest in peace,” Makinde stated.

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