Nigeria School Fair Stampede Kills 35 Children

This aerial photo shows a general 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 killed 35 children and seriously hurt 6 others, cops said on Thursday.

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

„8 persons have actually considering that been arrested for their numerous participations”, authorities spokesperson Adewale Osifeso stated in a statement.

Among those apprehended 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 opened a probe, Osifeso included.

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu on Thursday in a declaration „expressed extensive sadness over the tragic incident”.

He provided his „genuine condolences” to locals, state authorities and the „mourning households who have lost their precious children”.

He advised the „Oyo State federal government to take every needed measure to prevent such a tragedy from reoccurring”, the declaration by the presidency included.

„Among the essential actions are an extensive evaluation of all public occasions’ security measures, stringent enforcement of security guidelines, and routine security audits of occasion places,” Tinubu included.

– ‘Rest in peace’ –

Nigeria has seen numerous lethal stampedes in recent months.

In March, 2 students passed away and 23 were injured after being squashed as thousands collected free of charge bags of rice handed 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 workplace of a wealthy business owner in the northern city of Bauchi to gather 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 pushed to get hold of the cash, causing a stampede, as Nigeria faced its worst recession in a generation.

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde had shared his condolences for the Ibadan victims on X on Wednesday.

„Our hearts remain with the families and loved ones affected by this catastrophe. May the souls of the left rest in peace,” Makinde stated.

„We sympathise with the parents whose pleasure has actually all of a sudden been turned to grieving due to these deaths,” he included.