Nigeria School Fair Stampede Kills 35 Children

This aerial photo reveals a basic view of the city of Ibadan in southwestern Nigeria, where the event took place

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

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

«8 persons have actually since been arrested for their numerous involvements», cops spokesperson Adewale Osifeso said in a declaration.

Among those detained 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 included.

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

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

He prompted the «Oyo State federal government to take every essential procedure to prevent such a disaster from repeating», the declaration by the presidency included.

«Among the vital actions are an extensive evaluation of all public occasions’ safety measures, rigorous enforcement of safety policies, and routine safety audits of occasion places,» Tinubu included.

– ‘Rest in peace’ –

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

In March, 2 trainees passed away and 23 were harmed after being crushed as for free bags of rice distributed by regional authorities at Nasarawa State University, in central Nigeria.

Later that month, another stampede eliminated 4 females who had actually been waiting outside the workplace of a rich business person in the northern city of Bauchi to collect 5,000 naira ($3.40) cash presents to assist pay for food during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

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

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde had actually 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 left rest in peace,» Makinde stated.

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