Yohaig Nigeria

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 took place

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

The hurt children were receiving medical attention following the incident, which took location on Wednesday in Nigeria’s third-largest city, Oyo State Police Command stated.

“8 individuals have since been jailed for their numerous participations”, authorities representative Adewale Osifeso stated in a statement.

Among those apprehended was the primary sponsor of the event at the Basorun Islamic High School, which was arranged by the 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 declaration “expressed profound unhappiness over the awful event”.

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

He urged the “Oyo State government to take every essential measure to avoid such a catastrophe from returning”, the statement by the presidency added.

“Among the vital actions are an extensive evaluation of all public events’ precaution, strict enforcement of security policies, and routine security audits of occasion venues,” Tinubu included.

– ‘Rest in peace’ –

Nigeria has actually seen a number of deadly stampedes in current months.

In March, 2 trainees died and 23 were injured 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 killed 4 women who had actually been waiting outside the office of a rich business person in the northern city of Bauchi to gather 5,000 naira ($3.40) money gifts to help spend for food throughout the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Witnesses stated members of the crowd pressed to get hold of the money, triggering a stampede, as Nigeria faced its worst financial crisis 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 enjoyed ones affected by this disaster. May the souls of the left rest in peace,” Makinde stated.

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