Nigeria School Fair Stampede Kills 35 Children

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

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

The injured children were receiving medical attention following the event, which took location on Wednesday in city, Oyo State Police Command said.

“8 individuals have actually given that been detained for their different involvements”, cops representative Adewale Osifeso stated in a declaration.

Among those detained was the main 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 extensive unhappiness over the tragic incident”.

He used his “wholehearted acknowledgements” to residents, state authorities and the “grieving families who have lost their cherished kids”.

He urged the “Oyo State government to take every needed procedure to avoid such a disaster from repeating”, the declaration by the presidency included.

“Among the vital actions are a detailed evaluation of all public events’ safety steps, stringent enforcement of safety policies, and routine safety audits of event places,” Tinubu included.

– ‘Rest in peace’ –

Nigeria has actually seen several deadly stampedes in current months.

In March, 2 students died and 23 were harmed after being crushed as thousands gathered totally free bags of rice given out by regional authorities at Nasarawa State University, in main Nigeria.

Later that month, another stampede eliminated 4 females 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) money gifts to assist pay for food during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Witnesses said members of the crowd pressed to get hold of the cash, causing 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 impacted by this disaster. May the souls of the departed rest in peace,” Makinde said.

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