Nigeria School Fair Stampede Kills 35 Children

This aerial photo reveals 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 eliminated 35 kids and seriously hurt 6 others, cops said on Thursday.

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

«8 individuals have since been arrested for their various involvements», cops 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 organised by the Wings Foundation and Agidigbo .

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 extensive unhappiness over the tragic incident».

He provided his «sincere condolences» to locals, state authorities and the «grieving households who have lost their beloved children».

He advised the «Oyo State federal government to take every needed measure to prevent such a tragedy from reoccurring», the statement by the presidency included.

«Among the essential actions are a comprehensive evaluation of all public events’ security measures, stringent enforcement of security policies, and routine security audits of event places,» Tinubu included.

– ‘Rest in peace’ –

Nigeria has seen several fatal stampedes in current months.

In March, two students passed away and 23 were injured after being crushed as thousands collected for free bags of rice handed out by local authorities at Nasarawa State University, in central Nigeria.

Later that month, another stampede eliminated four females who had actually been waiting outside the workplace of a rich business person in the northern city of Bauchi to gather 5,000 naira ($3.40) money presents to assist 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 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 remain with the households and enjoyed ones impacted by this disaster. May the souls of the departed rest in peace,» Makinde said.

«We sympathise with the parents whose joy has suddenly been turned to grieving due to these deaths,» he included.