Nigeria School Fair Stampede Kills 35 Children

This aerial photograph reveals 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 kids and seriously hurt 6 others, authorities stated on Thursday.

The injured 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 considering that been jailed for their numerous participations», authorities representative 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.

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu on Thursday in a statement «revealed profound sadness over the awful occurrence».

He provided his «genuine acknowledgements» to residents, state authorities and the «grieving households who have actually lost their cherished kids».

He prompted the «Oyo State federal government to take every required step to avoid such a tragedy from returning», the statement by the presidency added.

«Among the necessary actions are a thorough evaluation of all public occasions’ precaution, rigorous enforcement of security regulations, and routine safety audits of occasion locations,» Tinubu included.

– ‘Rest in peace’ –

Nigeria has actually seen numerous lethal stampedes in recent months.

In March, 2 trainees died and 23 were injured after being crushed as thousands gathered totally free bags of rice distributed by local authorities at Nasarawa State University, in main Nigeria.

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

Witnesses stated members of the to acquire the cash, causing a stampede, as Nigeria grappled with its worst economic crisis in a generation.

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

«Our hearts remain with the households and loved ones impacted by this disaster. May the souls of the left rest in peace,» Makinde said.

«We sympathise with the parents whose joy has all of a sudden been turned to mourning due to these deaths,» he added.