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 happened

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

The hurt kids were receiving medical attention following the incident, which occurred on Wednesday in city, Oyo State Police Command said.

« 8 individuals have considering that been detained for their various involvements », authorities representative Adewale Osifeso stated in a declaration.

Among those detained was the primary sponsor of the event at the Basorun Islamic High School, which was organised by the Wings Foundation and Agidigbo FM radio.

The Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department has opened a probe, Osifeso added.

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu on Thursday in a statement « expressed extensive unhappiness over the terrible incident ».

He provided his « heartfelt acknowledgements » to locals, state authorities and the « grieving families who have lost their cherished kids ».

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

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

– ‘Rest in peace’ –

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

In March, two trainees passed away and 23 were harmed after being crushed as thousands gathered free of charge bags of rice given out by regional authorities at Nasarawa State University, in central Nigeria.

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

Witnesses stated members of the crowd pushed to get hold of the cash, triggering a stampede, as Nigeria grappled with 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 stay with the families and loved ones affected by this tragedy. May the souls of the departed rest in peace, » Makinde said.

« We sympathise with the parents whose happiness has suddenly been turned to mourning due to these deaths, » he added.