Nigeria School Fair Stampede Kills 35 Children

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

A stampede at a school funfair in the southwestern Nigerian city of Ibadan has actually killed 35 kids and seriously hurt 6 others, cops said on Thursday.

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

“8 individuals have actually since been jailed for their numerous participations”, police spokesperson Adewale Osifeso stated in a declaration.

Among those detained was the primary sponsor of the occasion 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 declaration “expressed profound unhappiness over the tragic event”.

He offered his “wholehearted condolences” to locals, state authorities and the “mourning households who have actually lost their beloved kids”.

He advised the “Oyo State government to take every required step to avoid such a catastrophe from reoccurring”, the declaration by the presidency included.

“Among the important actions are a thorough review of all public occasions’ security steps, strict enforcement of safety policies, and routine safety audits of event venues,” Tinubu included.

– ‘Rest in peace’ –

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

In March, two trainees passed away and 23 were hurt after being squashed as thousands gathered totally free bags of rice handed out by regional authorities at Nasarawa State University, in central Nigeria.

Later that month, another stampede killed 4 women who had been waiting outside the office of a wealthy business person in the northern city of Bauchi to collect 5,000 naira ($3.40) cash presents to help spend for food during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Witnesses said members of the crowd pushed to acquire the cash, triggering a stampede, as Nigeria came to grips 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 remain with the households and loved ones affected by this catastrophe. May the souls of the departed rest in peace,” stated.

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